N423bn Probe: El-Rufai Reports Judge to Chief Justice
Former Governor Nasiru Ahmad El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State has asked the Chief Judge of the Abuja Federal High Court to replace the judge in his case.
El-Rufa’i believes that Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa, who is currently handling the case, is biased.
El-Rufa’i’s lawyer, Abdulhakeem Mustapha, submitted a petition to the Abuja Federal High Court. The petition claims that El-Rufa’i is not receiving a fair trial and that there is injustice and bias in the proceedings.
The petition requests that the case be given to a different judge to ensure justice. The petition states that El-Rufa’i filed the case on June 26, 2024, to protect his right to a fair hearing. The case was assigned to Justice Aikawa, who scheduled the hearing for July 8, 2024.
On the hearing day, El-Rufa’i’s lawyer, S.S. Umoru, appeared, as did the lawyers for the respondents. The first respondent’s lawyer said they hadn’t filed their documents in time, while the second respondent’s lawyer, the Attorney-General of Kaduna State, had submitted their documents within the allowed time.