Nasir El-Rufai Pushes NJC To Act On Petition Against Judge In Fresh Controversy

Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has stepped up pressure on the National Judicial Council (NJC), urging decisive action over his petition against Justice R.M. Aikawa, whom he accused of bias and judicial misconduct.

According to Ireporter Online, El-Rufai, in a follow-up letter dated March 9, 2026, addressed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, expressed dissatisfaction with what he described as the council’s prolonged silence on the matter. He noted that more than a year had passed since he initially filed the petition in February 2025 without any official feedback.

Justice Aikawa is currently presiding over a criminal case instituted against El-Rufai by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The former governor was recently arraigned before the court on a 10-count charge involving allegations of corruption, including money laundering, abuse of office, conversion of public assets, and unlawful possession of funds.

El-Rufai’s legal representatives had earlier raised concerns over the assignment of the case to Justice Aikawa despite the pending petition. In his correspondence, the former governor maintained that the petition, filed under the NJC Judicial Discipline Regulations 2017, accused the judge of serious bias, denial of fair hearing, and conduct inconsistent with judicial standards.

He further warned that delays in addressing the complaint could erode public trust in the judiciary. El-Rufai also alleged that the judge continued to preside over cases involving some of his former associates in the Kaduna State Government and admitted evidence he considered inadmissible, thereby causing undue harm to individuals linked to him.

The former governor cautioned that unchecked judicial conduct could weaken the rule of law, stressing that persistent controversial rulings might push affected parties toward self-help, ultimately undermining the justice system. He therefore urged the Chief Justice to ensure that all related cases before Justice Aikawa at the Federal High Court in Kaduna are reassigned to another judge of unquestionable integrity.

In its response dated March 24, 2026, the NJC confirmed that the petition is under review. The council’s Secretary, Ahmed Saleh, disclosed that the complaint had been forwarded to its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee for evaluation. He added that the Chief Justice had earlier sent the petition to Justice Aikawa on March 21, 2025, requesting a response within 14 days, although the judge reportedly only replied after a reminder was issued in November 2025.

The council explained that the committee is currently determining whether a prima facie case exists, noting that due process allows the judge to present a defence before any final decision is reached. The petition is linked to a suit involving El-Rufai and the Kaduna State House of Assembly, where allegations of judicial impropriety were also raised.