There was a heavy security presence at the Federal High Court in Kaduna on Tuesday as former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, appeared for the ruling on his bail application.

Security operatives were stationed at strategic points around the court premises, restricting movement and keeping journalists and members of the public at a distance as proceedings unfolded before Justice Rilwan Aikawa.

El-Rufai arrived at the court under tight security, while the atmosphere remained tense ahead of the expected ruling in his ongoing legal proceedings.

The court had earlier scheduled Tuesday for ruling on his bail application in relation to amended charges filed against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

However, the matter was not concluded as expected, as proceedings were affected by earlier developments in the case.

The Kaduna State High Court, presided over by Justice Darius Khobo, had initially adjourned the bail ruling to April 21 following the filing of a revised nine-count charge against the former governor.

According to defence counsel Ukpong Abang, the prosecution amended the charges in court, dropping one defendant and naming El-Rufai as the sole accused person.

Abang said the defence team was served with the amended charges during proceedings and required time to review them before responding.

“The charges are entirely new to us… that is why the matter could not proceed,” he told journalists after the hearing.

Following the legal developments, the case was adjourned again to April 21 for further consideration of the bail application.