The scheduled arraignment of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai could not go ahead on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, after the Department of State Services (DSS) failed to produce him before the Federal High Court in Abuja. As a result, the judge adjourned the case to April 23, 2026, giving authorities more time to ensure his presence in court.
El-Rufai was expected to be arraigned on a three-count charge filed by the DSS accusing him of unlawful interception of communications and breaches of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024 and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, based on comments he made during a televised interview.
However, he was absent when the matter was called before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, with the prosecution explaining that El-Rufai remained in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), where he is also being investigated. The DSS said it could not produce him because the ICPC retained him for further inquiry, and noted it has no control over the sister agency’s investigative timeline.
Defence counsel Oluwole Iyamu (SAN) did not oppose the adjournment request, but he pressed the court to consider granting bail, arguing that his client could apply for bail even before arraignment. The prosecution, however, insisted that bail proceedings were premature until El-Rufai had formally appeared before the court and entered a plea. Justice Abdulmalik agreed with the prosecution’s position, ruling that the court was not yet properly seized of the matter and refusing the bail invocation.
The court’s decision means that the arraignment will now take place on April 23, 2026, when El-Rufai is expected to appear and enter his plea to the charges against him.
Supporters and political observers have been closely watching the case, which has drawn national attention given El-Rufai’s high profile and the legal questions surrounding the allegations.
