The Court of Appeal sitting in Kaduna has upheld the continued detention of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, dismissing his appeal against the refusal of bail and ruling that he failed to present fresh facts or special circumstances to justify overturning the decision.

In a unanimous judgment in Appeal No. CA/K/254C/2026, a three-member panel affirmed the Kaduna State High Court’s June 10, 2026, ruling rejecting El-Rufai’s second bail application, holding that the trial judge exercised his discretion judicially and judiciously without any miscarriage of justice.

The lead judgment, delivered by Justice Onyekachi Aja Otisi, held that the appellate court had no basis to interfere with the lower court’s findings, noting that such intervention is unwarranted unless the findings are shown to be perverse.

The court also struck out El-Rufai’s reply brief filed on September 29, describing it as incompetent, and resolved the sole issue for determination against the former governor and in favour of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The dismissal leaves El-Rufai in detention pending the determination of his case, with the substantive trial scheduled to commence on October 12, 2026.

The ruling follows the recent rejection of his bail and recusal applications by Justice Darious Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court.

El-Rufai has been in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) since February 18, 2026, spending nearly eight months in detention.