Breaking: Court Takes Another Action on El-Rufai's Case as DSS Makes Confession
A federal high court in Abuja has shifted the date for the arraignment of the immediate past governor of Kaduna state, Nasir El-Rufai, to April 23.
Recall that the Department of State Service (DSS) had filed a three-count charge against the former governor over the allegation of an unlawful interception of the telephone conversation of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Source: Twitter
The suit followed the comment made by El-Rufai during a television interview. The court then fixed Wednesday, February 25, for the arraignment of the former governor. However, as the court session commenced on Wednesday, the former governor was absent.
According to The Cable, the counsel to the secret police, Oluwole Aladedoyin, disclosed that the ex-governor is still in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). Maintaining that it was the reason the DSS could not present El-Rufai at the court for a hearing.
The prosecuting counsel then called on the court to adjourn the hearing for two weeks to enable the DSS provide El-Rufai in court after the investigation of the ICPC.
However, counsel to El-Rufai, Oluwole Iyamu, who did not oppose the application for the arraignment, moved for a bail application for the former governor. He cited Section 158 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), adding that the court can hear and grant bail, even before the arraignment of the defendant.
He argued that for El-Rufai to stay another two weeks in detention before the hearing of his bail would amount to oppressive behaviour” by the prosecution. He alleged that the secret police had the time to prepare the case because the charge was filed on February 16, and claimed that the ex-governor was handed over to the ICPC by the EFCC.
In his response, Adedoyin rejected the claim that the ex-governor was taken into the ICPC custody by the DSS, adding that he "was initially detained by the EFCC. It is from the EFCC that he was taken to the ICPC. He has never been in DSS custody.”
Source: Legit.ng
