There was mild drama at the Kaduna State High Court on Monday as former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, was overheard making remarks about the forthcoming national convention of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The convention, scheduled for Tuesday, has remained a subject of controversy, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) warning the party against proceeding with the exercise.
Upon his arrival at the court premises around 9 a.m., El-Rufai, a prominent figure within the ADC, was seen briefly engaging in a conversation with a loyalist.
Holding a document in his hand, he reportedly asked, “So tomorrow is the convention, right?” to which the associate responded, “God’s willing.”
The former governor smiled and proceeded into the courtroom alongside his legal team and one of his wives.
Security presence was visibly heightened around the court, with tight monitoring of entry points and surrounding roads.
El-Rufai is currently standing trial before the Kaduna State High Court alongside one Amadu Sule over allegations including abuse of office, fraud, intent to commit fraud, and conferring undue advantage.
The charges, instituted by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), are separate from a pending matter before the Federal High Court in Kaduna, where a bail application is scheduled to be heard on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the ADC has dismissed the trial as politically motivated, describing it as a witch-hunt and accusing the Federal Government of targeting opposition figures.
