Nasir Ahmad El‑Rufai trial adjourned as women groups decry political witch‑hunt in Kaduna

The Federal High Court in Kaduna postponed the trial of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahmad El‑Rufai to 24 June 2026 after two co‑defendants failed to appear. El‑Rufai is being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on charges of abuse of office, financial impropriety and fraud during his 2015‑2023 tenure. He denied all allegations and remained in court while the hearing was halted.

Separately, a coalition of more than 100 women’s organisations in Kaduna, operating under the Coalition of Women Societies and Associations in Kaduna State, issued a statement calling the anti‑corruption case a “political witch‑hunt” targeting El‑Rufai, his former chief of staff Bashir Saidu and other officials. The coalition urged the release of any detained individuals, demanded impartiality from security agencies and anti‑corruption bodies, and highlighted El‑Rufai’s role in the All Progressives Congress and his administration’s infrastructure reforms. The dual developments underscore the political tension surrounding the high‑profile corruption case.