Charges Filed Against Former Kaduna State Governor
The Department of State Services (DSS) has indicted former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai for allegedly intercepting communications from National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu. The indictment was announced on Thursday and includes five amended counts presented before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik at the Federal High Court in Abuja. El-Rufai has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Details of the Indictment
The case is registered as FHC/ABJ/99/2026. At the initial hearing, Oluwole Aladedoye, representing the DSS, informed the court that an agreement had been reached for the defendant to accept a plea deal. Nonetheless, he indicated that a further amended five-count complaint was submitted on April 13, requesting the dismissal of three previous charges.
Responses to Amended Charges
El-Rufai’s lawyer, Oluwole Iyamu, did not contest the amended charges, leading the judge to dismiss the earlier three-count charge. When the revised tally was read, El-Rufai maintained his not guilty plea. Aladedoye subsequently requested a trial schedule for three consecutive days; however, Iyamu opposed this, citing difficulties in meeting with El-Rufai due to his custody status at the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC).
Bail Application Filed
Iyamu also informed the court about a bail application submitted on February 17. Although further affidavits in support of the request were absent from the court records, the judge postponed the hearing to allow the defense to prepare. Later, Iyamu formally filed a bail request, which Aladedoye did not contest, but he urged the court to impose conditions to ensure El-Rufai’s appearance at trial.
Witness Anonymity Motion Submitted
In another legal move, Aladedoye filed a motion seeking to suppress the identities of two prosecution witnesses, suggesting they should be identified only by pseudonyms during the trial. He argued that revealing their identities could place them and their families at risk from individuals sympathetic to El-Rufai. Iyamu countered this application, emphasizing the defendant’s right to know his accusers and stating there was no evidence linking El-Rufai to any alleged danger.
Defense Claims and Additional Applications
In a further development, Iyamu petitioned for the prosecution to produce evidence for the defense’s preparation, although Aladedoye opposed this, claiming the documents were irrelevant to the ongoing proceedings. Iyamu also filed a separate application requesting that the charges against El-Rufai be quashed; Aladedoye dismissed this as lacking merit, urging the court to reject the defendant’s plea.
Next Steps in the Legal Proceedings
Following extensive discussions, Judge Abdulmalik ordered an expedited trial process and scheduled hearings for May 18, 19, and 20 to address all pending applications and initiate the prosecution’s case. Additionally, she directed that El-Rufai, who had been transferred from ICPC custody tied to another case, should be remanded to DSS custody, allowing defense attorneys to coordinate with DSS staff to prepare adequately for trial.
