Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has approached
the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, requesting the reassignment
of his ongoing case from Justice R. M. Aikawa of the Federal High Court in
Kaduna.
In a petition dated April 9, 2026, El-Rufai called for the
case to be reassigned to another judge within the Kaduna division, expressing
concerns over what he described as bias and questionable judicial conduct. He
argued that allowing Justice Aikawa to continue presiding over the matter would
be inconsistent with legal and ethical standards.
The former governor stated that several petitions accusing
the judge of bias are currently pending before the Chief Judge of the Federal
High Court and the National Judicial Council (NJC).
According to him, the circumstances surrounding the case
including its connection to earlier proceedings involving the same parties and
similar issues make reassignment necessary. He also pointed to what he termed
an “unavoidable perception of bias”, stressing that such a perception alone
could weaken confidence in the judicial process.
El-Rufai warned that proceeding with the current arrangement
could damage the credibility of the judiciary and potentially invalidate the
trial at the appellate stage, after causing significant personal consequences.
He maintained that the matter should either have been
assigned to a different judge from the outset or referred for reassignment once
concerns were raised.
He urged the CJN to direct the immediate transfer of the
case to another judge within or outside the Kaduna division. He also asked that
issues raised in the petition, including the conduct of Justice Aikawa, be
referred to the appropriate body within the NJC for review.
He further appealed for administrative steps to ensure the
integrity of the trial and sustain public trust in the justice system.
There has been no official reaction from the CJN or relevant
judicial authorities to the petition as of the time of filing this report.
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