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The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, for unlawfully obtaining a telephone conversation of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
El-Rufai is being prosecuted on an amended five-count charge before a Federal High Court in Abuja. During the commencement of proceedings, which was presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, the prosecution informed the court that the charges had been increased from three to five counts.
DSS lawyer, Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN, told the court that the matter was set for the defendant to take his plea, however, a further amended five-count charge was filed on April 13. The lawyer also prayed the court to substitute it with the earlier three-count charge.
“We pray that the earlier charge be struck out, my lord,” he said.
Following the amendment, El-Rufai’s counsel, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, responded, saying he had been served with the amended charge and that he was not opposing; the judge then struck out the earlier three-count charge. After the counts were read to the former minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), he pleaded not guilty, and Aladedoye sought three consecutive trial dates.
Iyamu objected to an application for three consecutive days for the commencement of the trial. He stated that since the defendant had been in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), having access to him within the three days of the trial might be difficult. He also informed the court of their bail application filed on February 17.
The court file lacked a further affidavit supporting the bail application, prompting the judge to stand down the matter so El-Rufai’s counsel could do what was required.
