The planned arraignment of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, suffered a setback on Wednesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja after his legal team failed to produce him, citing his detention by another anti-graft agency.
El-Rufai is facing a three-count charge preferred against him by the Department of State Services (DSS) over the alleged illegal wiretapping of the telephone of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
At Wednesday’s proceedings, proceedings hit a snag when Defence counsel, Oluwole Iyamu, informed the court that his client was not available for arraignment as he was currently in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Iyamu urged the court to adjourn the matter to allow for his client’s production. He also pressed for the court to hear the bail application, noting that the prosecution had indicated it would not oppose bail as the charges are bailable.
However, the prosecution counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, countered the request, asking the court to defer any discussions on bail. He argued that since the defendant had not been formally arraigned and had not pleaded to the charges, the application for bail was procedurally premature.
In a brief ruling, Justice Joyce Abdumalik upheld the prosecution’s argument, holding that a bail application could not be entertained before a formal arraignment.
Consequently, the court adjourned the matter to April 23, 2026, for the arraignment of the former governor.
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