The Department of State Services has arraigned former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over allegations of unlawfully accessing a telephone conversation involving the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
El-Rufai, who had served as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, is being prosecuted on an amended five-count charge before a Federal High Court in Abuja.
At the commencement of proceedings presided by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, on Thursday, the prosecution informed the court that the charges had been increased from three to five counts.
When the case was called, DSS lawyer, Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN, informed the court that the matter was fixed for the defendant to take his plea.
Aladedoye, however, told the court that a further amended five-count charge was filed on April 13.
The lawyer prayed the court to substitute it with the earlier three-count charge.
“We pray that the earlier charge be struck out, my lord,” he said.
Responding, El-Rufai’s counsel, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, said he had been served with the amended charge and that he was not opposing.
The judge then struck out the earlier three-count charge.
After the counts were read to the former governor, he pleaded not guilty, and Aladedoye sought three consecutive trial dates.
Iyamu, however, objected to an application for three consecutive days for the commencement of the trial.
He submitted that since the defendant had been in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, having access to him within the three days of the trial might be difficult.
According to him, the three days might not be in our best interest.
Iyamu also informed the court of their bail application filed on February 17.
However, the further affidavit in support of the bail application was not in the court file, and the judge stood down the matter for Iyamu to do the needful.