El-Rufai Pushes for Judge’s Removal as Court Sets September Date for Crucial Ruling

The legal battle involving former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, took another dramatic turn on Wednesday as a Kaduna State High Court fixed September 24, 2026, to rule on his request for the trial judge to step aside from his ongoing corruption trial.

Justice Darious Khobo announced the date after listening to arguments from lawyers representing both the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the defence team.

The courtroom proceedings were largely dominated by the controversy surrounding El-Rufai’s application, which seeks the recusal of the judge handling the case.

Speaking with journalists after the hearing, counsel to the ICPC, Ayodeji Adedipe, said the request for the judge’s withdrawal was the major issue before the court.

According to him, El-Rufai’s legal team had initially filed four separate applications asking the judge to disqualify himself from the matter but later withdrew three, choosing to proceed with only one.

“A lot was discussed in court today, but the central issue remained the defendant’s application seeking the recusal of the trial judge,” Adedipe stated.

The senior lawyer said the anti-corruption agency strongly opposed the application, arguing that the defence failed to present convincing reasons that would justify removing the judge from the case.

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He described the request as an afterthought and urged the court to dismiss it, stressing that the prosecution’s priority is to see the substantive trial move forward without further delays.

“Our position is simple: the application should be dismissed and a trial date fixed so the case can proceed,” he said.

However, El-Rufai’s lead counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN), defended the application, insisting that concerns about possible judicial bias prompted the move.

Erokoro pointed to remarks allegedly made by Justice Khobo while delivering a ruling on El-Rufai’s bail application in June 2026, arguing that those comments raised questions about whether his client could receive a fair hearing.

He explained that while El-Rufai’s appeal before the Court of Appeal focuses on securing bail, the application before the High Court is aimed at ensuring that the trial is conducted by a judge who has not already formed an opinion about the defendant.

“At the Court of Appeal, he is only asking the court to grant him bail. In this court, however, he is asking that the trial judge, having already referred to him as a criminal, should not be allowed to try his case because there is a likelihood of bias against him,” Erokoro argued.

With both sides firmly holding their positions, attention now shifts to September 24, when the court is expected to decide whether Justice Khobo will continue presiding over the high-profile case or step aside, a ruling that could significantly shape the direction of El-Rufai’s trial.