The Court of Appeal has nullified the judgment of the Federal High Court in Kaduna in a suit involving former Governor Nasir El-Rufai and the Kaduna State House of Assembly, citing a breach of his right to fair hearing.
In its March 17, 2026 judgment in appeal No. CA/K/240/2024, the appellate court held that the trial court lacked jurisdiction when it proceeded on July 18, 2024, without proper service of hearing notice on El-Rufai and denied him the opportunity to respond to the respondents’ counter-affidavit.
The court consequently set aside the proceedings of July 18 and the judgment of July 30, 2024, and ordered that the case be reassigned to another judge of the Federal High Court for a fresh hearing.
El-Rufai had filed the suit in 2024, alleging denial of fair hearing by the Kaduna State House of Assembly during its investigations. However, the case was heard in his absence, and the trial court later declined jurisdiction.
The Court of Appeal ruled that there was no proof of service and emphasised that hearing notice is fundamental to jurisdiction. It also held that El-Rufai was entitled to respond to filings made against him.