ICPC Opposes El-Rufai’s Ally Jimi Lawal’s Bail, Court Fixes Hearing For 16 October

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has opposed the bail application filed by Jimi Lawal, the second defendant in the alleged financial misconduct case involving former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

The Federal High Court sitting in Kawo, Kaduna, on Wednesday adjourned the hearing of Lawal’s bail application to 16 October 2026, while fixing 8 December 2026 for the commencement of the substantive trial.
One of the prosecution counsel, Ibrahim Mukhtar, disclosed this to journalists after proceedings before the presiding judge, Justice Hauwa’u Buhari.

Mukhtar said the prosecution had filed a counter-affidavit opposing Lawal’s bail application but was yet to present its arguments before the court.

“We have already filed a counter-affidavit to it. So, we are opposing the application,” he said.

He declined to disclose the grounds for opposing the application, explaining that the prosecution was yet to formally present its response before the court.

Mukhtar said the charges against the defendants bordered on alleged financial misconduct and involved about seven counts.

He, however, noted that the substantive trial had yet to commence and that no witnesses had been presented before the court.

During the proceedings, Lawal’s counsel, Obong Okon, urged the court to grant his client bail on medical grounds, arguing that his health condition warranted his release.

Okon also argued that the prosecution should not reasonably oppose the application after granting Lawal administrative bail.

He maintained that the medical grounds presented in the application were sufficient to justify bail, adding that only a living person could stand trial.

Counsel to El-Rufai, Mustapha Abubakar, SAN, told journalists outside the courtroom that a new prosecution counsel had announced an appearance and sought time to study the case.

Abubakar said the defence team representing El-Rufai was also appearing for the first time in the matter and supported the request for an adjournment to enable it to take over the brief from the former counsel.

Consequently, the substantive case was adjourned until 8 December for hearing.

On Lawal’s bail application, Abubakar said the relevant court processes, including the motion, the prosecution’s counter-affidavit and the further affidavit filed in response, were before the court.

According to him, the prosecution informed the court that it needed time to study the further affidavit, which was served on it on Wednesday.

He, however, added that Lawal’s counsel agreed to the adjournment in the interest of a fair hearing, although the bail application had already been moved.