The Kaduna State High Court has scheduled the first week of June for hearing on the bail application submitted by Nasir El-Rufai, a former governor of the state.
When the case came up on Tuesday, Darius Khobo, the presiding judge, said the court will examine the bail application and deliver ruling in the first week of June.
The judge further said the matter would receive accelerated hearing proceedings process.
El-Rufai is being tried by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on a 9-count charge bordering on allegations of corruption and abuse of office.
Addressing journalists after court proceedings, counsel to the former governor, Ukpon Akpan, opposed the repeated adjournment of the bail hearing, describing it as politically motivated in political nature.
Akpan said the defence team would contest the court’s position on the bail application.
He said the court’s refusal to grant bail was based on concerns that the defendant might interfere with investigations, a position he strongly disagreed with.
“The court in its wisdom decided that because Nasir El-Rufai is a former governor, he is going to interfere with the investigation…. “We respectfully disagree,” he said.
Akpan noted, “The next step is to take the legal steps required to challenge the decision of the court.
“We will respond through the proper legal process. That is what the law requires.”
He claimed the case had political undertones, stressing that the defence would stay focused on legal arguments before the court.
He stated, “From the beginning, everything about Nasir El-Rufai’s travails have always been political. This is mainly the legal arm of it”.
He however called supporters and associates of the former governor to stay calm and remain steadfast in the face of the ongoing proceedings.
“Don’t allow fear take over. Don’t act as if something fatal has happened. Nobody has died.”
“In a conflict, you have gains and setbacks. Sometimes, things work against you, but you must not be frightened, “he said.”
Akpan added that the defence would continue relying strictly on established legal processes in responding to the charges therein.
