The Federal High Court in Kaduna has adjourned the bail application by a former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai to next Tuesday, March 31.

Also a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, El-Rufai was brought before the court on Tuesday over charges bordering on conversion of public property and money laundering.

The charges were preferred against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, (ICPC).

A leader of the African Democratic Congress, El-Rufai was brought to court by security operatives at about 9 am in a Hilux vehicle and was held in the car for about 25 minutes before being escorted into the courtroom about 10 minutes later.

Security operatives were stationed in and around the court premises ahead of the hearing.

During the court proceedings, l counsel to El-Rufai, Ukpon Akpan asked the court to grant bail to his client to allow him prepare for his defense.

The argument was rejected by the prosecution counsel, who argued that the bail could interfere with the commission’s investigation.

El-Rufai has been in the custody of the ICPC since 19 February after he was released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Since then, there have been several calls for his release or arraignment.

In the ICPC custody, the former governor refused to respond to questions posed by investigators, citing his right to remain silent.

On 5 March, the Magistrate’s court extended El-Rufai’s initial remand order by another 14 days.

He filed a fundamental rights suit before a Federal High Court in Abuja over the search conducted on his residence by the ICPC and the remand order issued on19 February.