The trial of former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, before the Kaduna State High Court took a fresh turn on Wednesday after his lead defence counsel, Mr. Paul Erokoro, SAN, disowned three separate applications seeking the recusal of the trial judge and sought leave to file a fresh motion.
According to an official signed statement by the Spokesperson and Head of Media and Public Communications of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), J. Okor Odey, the case was scheduled for the hearing of the defendant’s motion for the recusal of the presiding judge.
The statement explained that at the commencement of proceedings, the lead prosecuting counsel, Chief Ayodeji Adedipe, SAN, informed the court that although the matter had been fixed for hearing of the defendant’s recusal application filed on 6 July 2026, the defence had filed three separate applications for recusal between the last adjourned date and the sitting, including one served on the prosecution shortly before the court commenced proceedings on Wednesday, 15 July 2026.
Responding, Mr. Erokoro told the court that he could neither identify with nor adopt the three applications filed by junior counsel, Mr. Ubong Akpan. He described the applications as containing combative language and extraneous matters, and consequently sought the court’s leave to file a fresh application while undertaking to withdraw the earlier motions.
The prosecution did not oppose the request for an adjournment in the interest of fair hearing. The court subsequently adjourned the matter, with the consent of both parties, to 22 July 2026 for the hearing of the fresh motion for recusal.
The ICPC noted that the criminal trial stems from charges filed against the former governor over allegations of abuse of office, diversion of public funds and other corruption-related offences allegedly committed during his tenure in office.
The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to diligently prosecuting the case in accordance with the law.
