Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has formally requested the transfer of his ongoing trial from Justice R. M. Aikawa of the Federal High Court in Kaduna, citing concerns about alleged bias.
In a petition dated April 9, 2026, addressed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, El-Rufai urged that the case be reassigned to another judge within or outside the Kaduna division to ensure fairness and protect the integrity of the judicial process.
The former governor argued that several petitions accusing Justice Aikawa of bias are already 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 related issues, make reassignment necessary.
El-Rufai also warned that the “unavoidable perception of bias” could weaken public confidence in the judiciary and potentially affect the outcome of the trial at the appellate stage.
He maintained that the matter should either have been assigned to a different judge from the beginning or transferred once concerns were raised.
The former governor further appealed to the Chief Justice to direct the immediate reassignment of the case and refer issues concerning Justice Aikawa’s conduct to the appropriate body within the NJC for review.
