El-Rufai’s Bid to Reassign Case Rejected by Kaduna CJ

Kaduna State Chief Judge Justice Muhammad Aliyu has rejected former Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s request to transfer his criminal case from Justice Darius Hyet Khobo to another judge.

El-Rufai is facing a nine-count charge filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). He and his lawyer, Unong Akpan, had petitioned the Chief Judge over what they described as concerns about the conduct of the trial.

After reviewing the petitions, the judge’s responses and a report from a three-member investigative panel, Justice Aliyu found no grounds for a transfer. The El-Rufai case will therefore remain before Justice Khobo.

The Chief Judge said he exercised his powers under Section 111(1)-(4) of the Kaduna State Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2017, to investigate the complaints. The panel submitted its findings on August 18.

The Chief Judge stated, “The committee found no basis for the exercise of my administrative powers to transfer the matter from your lordship to another judge of the High Court of Justice, Kaduna State.

“Accordingly, your lordship shall proceed with the hearing and determination of the matter in accordance with the law and fairness.”

El-Rufai had accused Justice Khobo of bias, alleging that the judge had already formed an opinion about his guilt. He also claimed the judge attended gatherings involving political, religious and community leaders who opposed his administration.

The former governor had asked the Chief Judge to reassign the El-Rufai case and have pending applications heard afresh. However, the investigation found no basis for doing so.

The El-Rufai case will now continue before Justice Khobo in line with the Chief Judge’s directive.

Do you think the Chief Judge’s decision will affect the course of the trial?