Nigeria, April 13 -- Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has formally petitioned the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, requesting the reassignment of Justice R.M. Aikawa from presiding over his ongoing criminal trial at the Federal High Court in Kaduna.

El-Rufai, who is facing a 10-count charge alongside a co-defendant, is being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) over allegations of abuse of office, money laundering, and fraud involving N579.6 million and $1.1 million.

In a petition dated April 9, 2026, the former governor urged the CJN to transfer the case to another judge within the Kaduna division, citing concerns over alleged bias and judicial conduct b...