BREAKING : Judge Steps Aside in El-Rufai Rights Suit, Case Reassigned as Bail Hearing Stalls

Justice Belgore of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has withdrawn from the fundamental human rights enforcement suit filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and transmitted the case file to the FCT Chief Judge for reassignment.
The development followed the judge’s decision to proceed on leave.
The court had earlier adjourned proceedings on Wednesday, February 25, to Friday for the hearing of El-Rufai’s bail application. However, at Friday’s sitting, Justice Belgore informed parties that he would be proceeding on leave and consequently returned the case file to the FCT Chief Judge for reassignment to another judge.
El-Rufai instituted the suit seeking enforcement of his fundamental human rights against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation.
According to a statement issued on February 27 by his Media Adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, the former governor has been in custody since voluntarily reporting to the EFCC on Monday, February 16, 2026. The statement added that he was subsequently transferred to the custody of the ICPC on the night of February 18.
With the reassignment of the matter, a new date for the hearing of the bail application is expected to be fixed once the case is allocated to another judge.
El-Rufai’s legal team maintains that the suit is aimed at securing the enforcement of his constitutional rights amid his continued detention by anti-graft agencies.