Odinkalu Faults El Rufai Bail Denial
Chidi Odinkalu has criticised the decision of a Kaduna court to deny bail to Nasir El-Rufai, warning that it could harm Nigeria’s justice system.
He said the ruling sends a worrying signal about how courts handle high-profile cases. The reaction followed the latest development in El-Rufai’s ongoing trial.
The case is being handled by Justice Darius Khobo, who ruled that the former governor should remain in custody. The court also shifted the hearing of the bail application to early June 2026.
Prosecutors from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission are pursuing charges linked to alleged financial crimes during his time in office.
Odinkalu argued that the charges against El-Rufai are bailable and should not justify continued detention.
He warned that using a suspect’s past political position as a reason to deny bail could open the door to abuse. According to him, such reasoning could affect many former public officials facing trial.
He added that justice must remain consistent, regardless of who is involved, and cautioned against letting emotions shape legal decisions.
While acknowledging public reactions to the case, he insisted that the rule of law must guide court actions. The debate has since drawn attention to broader concerns about fairness in the legal system.
