The planned arraignment of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over allegations of unlawful interception of the telephone line of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, was stalled on Wednesday after the Department of State Services failed to produce him in court.
The DSS had instituted a three-count charge against El-Rufai, accusing him of unlawfully intercepting phone communications and breaching provisions of the Nigerian Communications Act.
When the matter was called, prosecution counsel, Oluwole Aladeloye (SAN), informed the court that the case was slated for the defendant’s arraignment. However, proceedings could not continue in the absence of the former governor, as he was not presented before the court by the security agency.
Aladeloye told the court that business would be impossible without the defendant in the dock. He explained that El-Rufai could not be produced because he was currently in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).
The prosecution subsequently applied for an adjournment to enable the DSS liaise with the ICPC to secure the defendant’s presence in court on the next adjourned date.
The court is expected to fix a new date for the arraignment.
