El-Rufai NJC petition delay deepens as ex-governor demands action over alleged bias by Justice Aikawa

Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, in Abuja on Sunday intensified pressure on the National Judicial Council over what he described as a prolonged El-Rufai NJC petition delay, urging urgent action on his complaint against Federal High Court judge R.M. Aikawa.

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In a strongly worded reminder letter dated March 9, 2026, and addressed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, El-Rufai expressed concern over the council’s silence more than a year after submitting his petition.

The former governor is currently standing trial before Justice Aikawa on a 10-count charge filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, bordering on alleged corruption, including money laundering, abuse of office and unlawful possession of public assets.

El-Rufai’s legal team questioned the propriety of the judge presiding over the matter, citing the pending petition which accuses him of bias, denial of fair hearing and judicial misconduct.

“More than one year has now elapsed since its submission, yet no further communication has been forthcoming from the NJC,” El-Rufai stated, describing the situation as troubling.

He argued that the allegations outlined in the petition, filed in February 2025 under the NJC Judicial Discipline Regulations 2017, point to conduct “wholly unbecoming of a judicial officer,” warning that such actions could undermine public trust in the justice system.

The former governor further alleged that Justice Aikawa continued to handle cases involving his former associates in Kaduna State, admitting what he described as “patently inadmissible” evidence.

“His rulings continue to inflict unwarranted harm on innocent individuals solely due to their prior association with me,” El-Rufai said, cautioning that unchecked judicial behaviour could erode the rule of law.

As an interim measure, he urged the Chief Justice to order the immediate transfer of related cases from the Federal High Court in Kaduna to another judge of unquestionable integrity.

In response, the National Judicial Council, through its Secretary, Ahmed Saleh, confirmed in a letter dated March 24, 2026, that the petition remains under review by its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee.

The council explained that the Chief Justice had earlier forwarded the petition to Justice Aikawa in March 2025, requesting a response within 14 days. However, the judge did not respond until after a follow-up reminder issued in November 2025.

According to the council, both the petition and the judge’s response are now being assessed to determine whether a prima facie case exists to warrant a full investigation.

“The petition is currently before the Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee to determine if a prima facie case has been established,” the council stated, emphasising that its process ensures fairness by allowing all parties to present their positions.

The dispute stems from a suit involving El-Rufai and the Kaduna State House of Assembly, which the former governor cited as the basis for alleging judicial impropriety.

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The El-Rufai NJC petition delay has added a new layer of tension to the ongoing legal battle, raising broader concerns about accountability and confidence in Nigeria’s judicial system.