El-Rufai Returns To ICPC Custody After Kaduna Court Proceedings

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has returned to the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

El-Rufai on Tuesday appeared in two separate courts in Kaduna including the Federal High Court and the State High Court where he is facing different charges.

At the Kaduna State High Court, his planned arraignment could not go ahead because the second defendant in the case was absent from court.

As a result, the judge adjourned the arraignment to April 10.

At the Federal High Court, Justice Rilwani Aikawa also adjourned the hearing of El-Rufai’s bail application to Wednesday, April 1.

The prosecution told the court that its counter-affidavit opposing the bail request had only just been filed, making it impossible for the matter to proceed as earlier scheduled.

KanyiDaily recalls that on March 24, El-Rufai and Joel Adoga were first arraigned by the ICPC before the Federal High Court over allegations involving fraud and money laundering.

Both defendants pleaded not guilty, after which the court fixed March 31 for the bail hearing.

On March 27, the ICPC temporarily released El-Rufai from their custody on compassionate grounds following the death of his mother, Hajiya Umma.

She reportedly died in Egypt, where she had been receiving medical treatment, and was buried the following day, March 28.

After Tuesday’s court appearances, ICPC operatives reportedly took the former governor back into custody.

Confirming the development, ICPC spokesperson John Okor Odey said El-Rufai is in the commission’s custody.

“Temporary leave is different from bail. He was granted temporary leave to attend his mother’s burial. He is still in our custody. We took him to court,” Odey said.

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