N423bn Investigation: El-Rufai Reports Judge to Chief Justice Amid Bias Allegations
By Former Governor Nasiru Ahmad El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State has petitioned the Chief Judge of the Abuja Federal High Court, alleging that Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa, the judge presiding over his case against the Kaduna State House of Assembly at the Federal High Court in Kaduna, was biased.
In the petition filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja by his counsel, Abdulhakeem Mustapha, SAN, El-Rufa’i alleged bias, injustice, and denial of fair hearing.
Through his counsel, the former governor requested that the Chief Judge of the Abuja Federal High Court transfer the case to another judge in the interest of justice.
The petition stated: “The Applicant filed this suit to enforce his fundamental human rights to fair hearing against the Respondents on June 26, 2024, at the Federal High Court, Kaduna Division. The matter was assigned to Honourable Justice R.M. Aikawa, who scheduled a hearing for July 8, 2024.”
“When the case was called on July 8, 2024, S.S. Umoru, Esq appeared for the Applicant, while Sani Katu, SAN, appeared for the 1st Respondent. Sule Shuaibu, SAN, the Honourable Attorney-General of Kaduna State, appeared in person for the 2nd Respondent. Our counsel, Umoru, Esq., informed the court that they had been served with the processes from the 2nd Respondent and were still within the time to respond. However, the Learned Silk for the 1st Respondent informed the Court that they had not filed any processes and were out of time to do so by one day.”
