Dare Babalola
The State Security Service (SSS) on Thursday brought former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, before the Federal High Court in Abuja on an amended five-count charge relating to an alleged breach of national security.
El-Rufai was arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Abuja Division, where he pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
At the commencement of proceedings, counsel to the SSS, Oluwole Aladedoye, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for the defendant to take his plea. He, however, disclosed that the prosecution had filed a further amended five-count charge on April 13, seeking to replace the earlier three-count charge.
“We pray that the earlier charge be struck out, my lord,” Aladedoye told the court.
Defence counsel, Oluwole Iyamu, confirmed receipt of the amended charge and raised no objection to its substitution. Consequently, the court struck out the initial three-count charge.
Following the reading of the amended charges, El-Rufai entered a not guilty plea. The prosecution thereafter requested three consecutive dates for the commencement of trial.
However, Iyamu opposed the request, arguing that it would be challenging to adequately prepare for trial within such a short timeframe. He noted that his client was in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which could make access difficult during the proposed trial period.
“The three days might not be in our best interest,” he said.
Iyamu also drew the court’s attention to a bail application filed on February 17. However, the supporting affidavit for the application was not found in the court’s file.
As a result, Justice Abdulmalik stood down the matter to allow the defence to regularise the bail application process.
