El-Rufai overheard discussing ADC convention as he arrives for trial in Kaduna

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, was overheard asking an associate about the upcoming convention of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as he arrived at the Kaduna State High Court for the continuation of his trial.

Security was visibly heightened around the court premises, with operatives stationed at strategic points.

El-Rufai is being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over alleged corrupt practices.

He is standing trial alongside Amadu Sule on charges including abuse of office, fraud, attempted fraud, and conferring undue advantage.

Shortly before entering the courtroom, El-Rufai was heard asking, “So tomorrow is our convention, right?” His associate replied, “God willing,” suggesting the former governor’s continued political engagement despite the ongoing trial.

El-Rufai had earlier been arraigned before Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa of the Federal High Court, Kaduna, on a 10-count charge of alleged conversion and possession of public property, as well as money laundering, filed by the ICPC. His bail application has been adjourned to April 14, 2026, for ruling.

In a related case, the ICPC also arraigned El-Rufai before the Kaduna State High Court, presided over by Justice Darius Khobo, alongside businessman Amadu Sule, on similar allegations of abuse of office, fraud, attempted fraud, and granting undue advantage.

El-Rufai was in ICPC custody from February 19 until March 28, when he was temporarily released on compassionate grounds to attend the burial of his mother, who died in Cairo, Egypt, and was buried in Abuja.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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