The Court of Appeal sitting in Kaduna has dismissed an appeal filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai, challenging the decision of the Kaduna State High Court, which denied him bail.
The Independent Mirror reports in a judgment delivered in Appeal No. CA/K/254C/2026, Mallam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai v. Federal Republic of Nigeria, the appellate court affirmed the decision of the trial court, holding that the appeal lacked merit.
The lead judgment held that the appellants’ reply brief filed on September 29, 2026, was incompetent and was accordingly struck out.
The Court, however, adopted the issue for determination formulated by the respondent, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in resolving the appeal.
In its judgment, the appellate court held that the affidavit filed by El-Rufai at the High Court, upon which the lower court relied in reaching its decision, was flawed.
The Court further held that the trial judge, Justice Darious Khobo, exercised his discretion judicially and judiciously in refusing the former governor’s bail application, adding that there was no miscarriage of justice.
It noted that an appellate court would not interfere with the findings of fact made by a trial court where such findings had not been shown to be perverse.
Consequently, the sole issue for determination was resolved against El-Rufai and in favour of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Court therefore affirmed the ruling of the Kaduna State High Court and dismissed El-Rufai’s appeal for lacking merit.
The development comes a few days after the Kaduna High Court ruled against the former governor’s bail and recusal applications.
Meanwhile, the Kaduna High Court has fixed Monday, October 12, 2026, for the commencement of the substantive trial.
