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El-Rufai Denied Immediate Release; Bail Hearing Set For March 31

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Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai will remain in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) after a Federal High Court in Kaduna adjourned his bail application to March 31, 2026.

El-Rufai was brought before the court on Tuesday over charges bordering on conversion of public property and money laundering.

The charges were preferred against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

He was brought to court by security operatives at about 9:00 am in a Hilux vehicle and was held in the car for about 25 minutes before being escorted into the courtroom about 10 minutes later.

Security operatives were stationed in and around the court premises ahead of the hearing.

During the court proceedings, Ukpon Akpan, counsel to el-Rufai, asked the court to grant bail to his client to allow him prepare for his defense.

The argument was rejected by the prosecution counsel who argued that the bail could interfere with the commission’s investigation.

The former governor has been in the custody of the ICPC since February 19 after he was released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Since el-Rufai’s arrest, there have been several calls for his release or arraignment.

In ICPC custody, the former governor refused to respond to questions posed by investigators, citing his right to remain silent.

On March 5, the magistrate court extended the initial remand order for el-Rufai by another 14 days.

El-Rufai had filed a fundamental rights suit before the federal high court in Abuja over the search conducted on his residence by the ICPC and the remand order issued on February 19.

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MC Oluomo Retakes NURTW Secretariat In Abuja Following Clashes

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Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, has regained control of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) national secretariat in Abuja.

This follows a highly volatile 24-hour period marked by a leadership struggle between MC Oluomo and a rival faction led by Tajudeen Baruwa.

MC Oluomo returned to the secretariat to inspect damaged property following the takeover, according to a video shared by TVC on X.

The development followed an earlier move on Monday by a faction led by Tajudeen Baruwa, which occupied the secretariat, claiming that court rulings supported its action.

Baruwa, who addressed journalists after the occupation, maintained that his faction acted within the law and in line with court decisions.

“Their body language has not been encouraging despite repeated assurance that we are not going back to foment any trouble, as we are a law-abiding union whose only mission is to get back what belongs to us,” he said.

“But today, as you can see, we are taking over in a peaceful manner, and it is not a forceful takeover but just carrying out the court’s orders,” he added.

He said the police had been formally notified and provided with copies of the judgments but alleged that the response was not encouraging.

“Again, please be aware that our coming here after two years is to occupy our office, having obtained judgments at both the lower court and the Appeal Court, but they refused to obey court orders after waiting for about two years. We decided to resume at the office today without causing any violence, and here we are,” he said.

Baruwa also alleged that one of his members was attacked during the process.

“Although the other faction attacked one of our members, who is now in the hospital, the situation is under control. We are still open to reconciliation as we are a lawful organisation and not a troublemaker. No one is above the law,” Baruwa stated.

Reacting on Monday via his Instagram page, MC Oluomo described the development as a “forceful takeover” and insisted that legal proceedings were still ongoing.

He said he was not a defendant in the judgment cited by Baruwa and disclosed that the ruling had been appealed, with a stay of execution already secured.

“The National President wishes to inform members of the union and the general public that he was not a defendant in the purported judgment.

“The judgment has been appealed, and a stay of execution has been duly entered. He has not engaged with Mr Baruwa or any individual, aware that cases are pending in court.

“The situation is under the control of security agencies. Alhaji Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya remains the National President of NURTW,” the statement read.

Akinsanya urged union members to remain calm and law-abiding as the leadership dispute continues.

Tribune Online reports that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command on Monday arrested Baruwa and six others following the incident.

 

 

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Nigeria Neglected As Tinubu Focuses On Lagos – Modibo Claims

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A political analyst Dr. Ibrahim Modibo claimed that President Bola Tinubu has conquered Nigeria and is focusing development primarily on Lagos at the expense of other states.

Speaking in an interview on Trust TV on Monday, Modibo said almost all members of the Economic Team are from Lagos or the southwestern part of the country.

“So if they decide, they can just go and have a meeting, and they will be speaking Yoruba, taking minutes in Yoruba, implementing policy in Yoruba, and nobody can say anything, because as far as I’m concerned, Tinubu has conquered Nigeria.

“That’s why, right from the onset, I’ve stated unequivocally that we should not under any circumstances allow this thing to be happening like this.

“You see a lot of issues. You see Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN? Most of this has been dismantled from here and taken to Lagos. Customs has been dismantled and taken to Lagos. So many things have been under the cover of darkness been removed from Abuja back to Lagos.

“So I don’t know whether there is any agenda because if you look at what has been spent on Lagos alone under this administration, it is on trillions upon trillions of Naira, while other states of the Federation lack social amenities,” Modibo lamented.

 

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ICPC Arraigns El-Rufai Amid Heavy Security In Kaduna

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Security was significantly tightened at the Federal High Court in Kaduna on Tuesday as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) arraigned former Governor Nasir El-Rufai over alleged corruption-related offences.

The Department of State Service has mounted heavy deployment, restricting movement and partially shutting down the dual carriageway, with only one lane accessible.

By about 7:00 a.m., heavily armed personnel of the Department of State Services, Nigeria Police Force, Mobile Police Force, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps had taken positions at strategic locations leading to the court complex situated within the old Nigerian Defence Academy area.

Access roads to the venue witnessed restrictions, forcing vehicles into a single lane from the Ungwan Sarki axis through Kawo and triggering early morning gridlock.

The heavy security followed a prior notice by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission that it would arraign El-Rufai on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, before the Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna.

In a statement issued by its Head of Media and Public Communications, John Odey, the commission said the former governor would be docked alongside one Joel Adoga in suit number FHC/KD/73/2026.

The agency explained that the charges against the defendants include alleged conversion, unlawful possession of public property, and money laundering.

“The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission is set to arraign the former Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufa’i, and one Joel Adoga at the Federal High Court of Nigeria in the Kaduna Judicial Division on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. The charges range from conversion of and possession of public property to money laundering,” the statement read.

It further disclosed that another case, marked KDH/KAD/ICPC/01/26, had been instituted against El-Rufai and one Amadu Sule before a Kaduna State High Court.

According to the commission, the state charges border on abuse of office, fraud, intent to commit fraud, and conferring undue advantage.

“Similarly, another charge against Malam Nasir El-Rufa’i and one Amadu Sule has been filed before a Kaduna State High Court in the Kaduna Judicial Division. The charges range from abuse of office and fraud to intent to commit fraud and conferring undue advantage, among others,” the statement added.

The ICPC said both cases were filed on March 18, 2026, adding that a date for arraignment in the state court would be announced later.

It also insisted that El-Rufai had been properly served, stressing its adherence to due process and the rule of law.

The development came amid growing pressure from stakeholders, including the African Democratic Congress, which called for his immediate release or arraignment, describing his continued detention without formal charges as unconstitutional.

In the same vein, the Muslim Rights Concern criticised his prolonged detention, while members of his family also alleged a breach of his fundamental rights.

El-Rufai was first arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on February 16, 2026, granted bail two days later, and subsequently re-arrested by the ICPC.

He has remained in the custody of the anti-graft agency since then, pending his arraignment.

 

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