By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Federal High Court in Kaduna has adjourned the bail hearing for former Governor Nasir El-Rufai until Wednesday, March 31. Justice Rilwanu scheduled the new date after hearing arguments from both the defense and prosecution.

El-Rufai was arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on a 10-count charge involving the alleged conversion of public property and money laundering. The former governor pleaded not guilty to all charges.

In a separate case, El-Rufai also appeared before a Kaduna State High Court on charges of abuse of office, fraud, and intent to commit fraud. The ICPC filed charge number KDH/KAD/ICPC/01/26 against him and one other defendant, Amadu Sule, from the Kaduna State Development Agency (LEDA).

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, El-Rufai arrived at the Federal High Court premises at approximately 9:40 a.m. in the company of ICPC officers.

Security was heightened across the Kaduna metropolis ahead of the proceedings. Armed personnel from the police, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Kaduna State Vigilance Service were deployed to strategic locations. Access to the court was restricted to accredited journalists and court officials, though media representatives were barred from entering the courtroom to cover the proceedings.

Counsel for El-Rufai, Abdul Adamu, declined to comment after the session, stating only that the case “has been adjourned till tomorrow.”

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The ICPC and DSS operatives, after the court session on Tuesday, 31 March, have taken Mallam Nasir El-Rufai with them to Abuja, a move which has raised questions about the status of his administrative bail.

The journey to Abuja followed his appearance at the Federal High Court, Kaduna, which was scheduled to hear his application for bail. The court adjourned to tomorrow, 1 April 2026, after the prosecution said it had just filed its counter affidavit.

He had been released on administrative bail on Friday following the death of his mother. Sources say that he was granted bail for 14 days. He hosted the fidau prayers for his mother yesterday in Abuja before proceeding to Kaduna for today’s court sessions. The latest development indicates that the bail has been revoked.

Mallam El-Rufai has first appeared this morning at the Kaduna State High Court. The absence of the second defendant stalled the hearing which was then adjourned to 10 April 2026.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

In a dramatic political realignment, eight members of the House of Representatives from Kano State formally defected from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday.

The mass defection, which signals a significant shift in the political dynamics of Nigeria’s most populous state, was announced during plenary at the Green Chamber. The move represents a major blow to the NNPP, which controls the Kano State Government House, and a substantial boost for the APC as it consolidates its federal influence.

The announcement drew a high-profile audience, underscoring the political weight of the development. Among those present to witness the defection were Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, a prominent figure in the NNPP; Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin; and former Kano governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who now serves as a national leader of the APC. Their presence highlighted the escalating political contest for control and influence in the state.

Political analysts view the defection as a major realignment ahead of future electoral contests. For the APC, the addition of eight federal lawmakers strengthens its numerical standing in the House and deepens its foothold in a state where the NNPP had mounted a formidable challenge in the 2023 elections.

The lawmakers have yet to publicly detail their reasons for leaving the NNPP, but the coordinated switch points to intensifying factional battles and strategic maneuvering within Kano’s political landscape. The development is expected to further polarize the state’s political environment as both parties position themselves for the next electoral cycle.