Court of Appeal reserves judgment on El-Rufai’s bail appeal

The Court of Appeal sitting in Kaduna has reserved judgment in the bail appeal filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.

During Tuesday’s proceedings, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) urged the court to dismiss the appeal.

However, El-Rufai’s counsel, Paul Erokoro, SAN, argued that the charges against his client are not capital offences and that his continued detention was affecting his ability to adequately prepare his defence.

Erokoro also described El-Rufai as a prominent opposition figure, arguing that the timing of the criminal charges, coming close to an election, was noteworthy.

“We submit that the offences with which the appellant is charged are not capital offences, and his continued detention is affecting his ability to prepare his defence,” Erokoro told the court.

The court heard arguments from both sides before reserving judgment.

No date was fixed for the delivery of the judgment.