The trial of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, suffered a setback on Monday after two of his co-defendants failed to appear before the Federal High Court in Kaduna.
El-Rufai, who arrived at the court around 9:30 a.m. accompanied by officials of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), as well as operatives of the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force, was present for the proceedings.
However, the absence of the two co-defendants prevented the case from proceeding as scheduled.
Presiding judge, Justice Rilwanu Aikawa, subsequently adjourned the matter to June 24, 2026, for the continuation of hearing.
The ICPC is prosecuting El-Rufai and others over allegations of abuse of office, fraud and financial impropriety linked to the award and execution of contracts and the management of public funds during his administration between 2015 and 2023.
The anti-graft agency alleges that public funds were released for projects that were either abandoned, not executed or carried out in breach of due process. It also claims that some former officials of the Kaduna State Government were involved in transactions that caused financial losses to the state.
El-Rufai and the other defendants have denied the allegations, insisting that all contracts and expenditures under the administration complied with relevant laws and procurement procedures.
The case has continued to attract public attention due to El-Rufai’s prominence in national politics and his eight-year tenure as governor of Kaduna State.
