Former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Professor Chidi Odinkalu, has condemned the denial of bail for former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court on Tuesday declined to grant bail to the former governor, per TVC news report.
El-Rufai was arraigned last week on an amended nine-count charge bordering on alleged fraud and abuse of office, filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The former governor appeared before the court last Tuesday for the hearing of his bail application; however, the presiding judge adjourned the ruling to April 21, 2026. Speaking after the court session, counsel to the former governor, Ukpon Akpan, criticised the adjournment, alleging it was politically motivated.
In a post on his X handle, Odinkalu—traditionally a staunch critic of El-Rufai—argued that the ruling was not based on legal merit but amounted to “kangaroo” justice.
”Darius Khobo, a judge of the Kaduna State High Court, has ruled today denying bail to @elrufai,” Odinkalu stated. “The charges are fraud & money laundering. They are clearly bailable.”
Odinkalu questioned the court’s reasoning that El-Rufai’s status as a former governor or minister posed a risk of interference with investigations.
”That is a new low,” he said. “If this were to be the law, Nigeria’s prisons would be full of former governors, ex-ministers, and former senators on pre-trial detention.”
While acknowledging the public perception of “karma” regarding the former governor’s legal troubles, Odinkalu maintained that judicial standards must remain consistent.
”Many people will gloat that he is getting a dose of his own medicine. But I denounced those then because that was not law or justice. I will denounce this again today because it is neither law nor justice. What has happened today in the court of Darius Khobo is just as vile. It is a kangaroo.”