El-Rufai Alleges Bias in Legal Proceedings, Petitions for Case Transfer

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has filed a petition accusing Justice Rilwanu Aikawa of bias and denial of fair hearing in his ongoing legal case. The petition, dated July 18, 2024, was submitted to Justice John Tsoho, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria.

Represented by counsel Adetayo Adeyemo, El-Rufai requested the transfer of his fundamental human rights suit, marked FHC/KD/CS/55/2024, to another judge to ensure impartiality. He cited several incidents to support his claim of bias.

El-Rufai outlined that his case was originally scheduled for a hearing on July 8, following its filing on June 26, 2024. During the proceedings, a delay in the respondent’s filing prompted an adjournment to July 17. His principal counsel, A.U. Mustapha (SAN), traveled from Lagos for the July 17 hearing, only to find out the court was not in session.

Subsequently, El-Rufai alleges that despite his team’s filing for an adjournment due to short notice on July 18, the court proceeded with the hearing without notifying him or his counsel. He claims this led to respondents adopting their processes in his absence, which he perceives as a violation of his right to a fair hearing.

El-Rufai emphasized the importance of procedural fairness in legal proceedings and expressed a loss of confidence in Justice Aikawa’s ability to impartially adjudicate his case. The outcome of his petition and its potential impact on the ongoing legal battle remain uncertain.