Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, was taken into custody by the Department of State Services (DSS) on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, immediately after a hearing at the Federal High Court in Kaduna. El-Rufai, who is facing trial over alleged corruption, had just concluded a hearing on his bail application filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) when DSS operatives escorted him into a waiting vehicle, reportedly heading to Abuja ¹ ² ³.
The court had fixed April 14 for ruling on the bail application, with lead defence counsel Oluwole Iyamu (SAN) expressing hope for a positive outcome. “The bail application was argued and responded to, and the ruling has been fixed for April 14. We look forward to that day. We are hopeful. We have put our arguments before the court, and this is a court of justice. We await the decision of the court,” Iyamu said ¹ ².
El-Rufai is facing multiple charges, including abuse of office, fraud, and conferring undue advantage, at both the Federal High Court and the Kaduna State High Court. The DSS had maintained a heavy presence around the court prior to the hearing, fueling speculation that the former governor might be detained ¹ ⁴ ².
