Former Kaduna Governor Nasir El‑Rufai’s Trial Delayed as Lead Lawyer Disowns Recusal Motions

The Kaduna State High Court adjourned the criminal trial of former governor Nasir El‑Rufai to July 22, 2026, to hear a fresh application for the judge’s recusal. Lead defence counsel Paul Erokoro, SAN, disowned three recusal applications that had been filed by junior counsel Ubong Akpan, describing them as containing combative language and unrelated matters. Erokoro sought the court’s permission to file a new recusal motion and pledged to withdraw the earlier applications. The prosecution, led by Chief Ayodeji Adedipe, SAN, did not oppose the adjournment, citing the need for a fair hearing.

The case was instituted by Nigeria’s Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and charges El‑Rufai with abuse of office, diversion of public funds and other corruption‑related offences allegedly committed during his tenure as governor of Kaduna State.