The Court of Appeal sitting in Kaduna has reserved judgement in the bail appeal filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai.
El-Rufai is challenging the ruling of the Kaduna State High Court which denied him bail in the corruption case filed against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Presiding Justice, Hon. Justice Onyekachi Aja Otisi, reserved judgement after listening to arguments from both counsels on Monday.
ICPC lead counsel, Ayodeji Adedipe, urged the appellate court to dismiss the appeal, insisting that the lower court was right to refuse bail.
According to Adedipe, El-Rufai had filed three separate bail applications before the trial court and all were refused. He said the former governor failed to show exceptional circumstances to warrant bail and also failed to disclose to the Appeal Court that his third application had been dismissed.
But counsel to El-Rufai, Paul Erokoro, SAN, asked the court to overturn the High Court decision and admit his client to bail.
Erokoro argued that the offences for which El-Rufai is standing trial are not capital offences and that bail is a constitutional right. He added that continued detention has made it difficult for the former governor to prepare his defence and consult freely with his lawyers.
After hearing both sides, Justice Otisi reserved judgement. No date was announced for delivery of the judgement.
