Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, was present at the Federal High Court in Kaduna on Wednesday as proceedings on his bail application resumed.
El-Rufai arrived at the court complex around 9:00am and stepped out of his vehicle shortly after, attracting the attention of security operatives and a few observers within the premises.
The hearing followed Tuesday’s session, which could not proceed as scheduled due to a series of legal steps taken by the defence that altered the course of the case.
During the earlier proceedings, the defence had asked the trial judge, Rilwan M. Aikawa, to excuse himself from the case, citing concerns over alleged bias and an existing petition.
The move drew swift opposition from the prosecution and significantly shifted the direction of the proceedings.
However, the defence later made a U-turn by filing another application to withdraw its earlier request for the judge to step aside.
The back-and-forth applications resulted in heated legal arguments between both sides, ultimately stalling progress on the bail application.
Compounding the situation, the prosecution submitted a counter-affidavit challenging the bail request, leaving the defence with insufficient time to respond before the adjournment.
Justice Aikawa subsequently fixed Wednesday for the continuation of the hearing.
Security presence was notably reinforced around the court, with armed personnel deployed to control access and maintain order.
Journalists were also denied entry into the courtroom, as security officials enforced strict restrictions on movement within the premises.
