Court adjourns El-Rufai’s trial to June 24 as co-defendants fail to appear
The trial of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on charges of alleged abuse of office, fraud and financial misconduct suffered a setback on Monday after two co-defendants failed to appear before a Federal High Court in Kaduna.
The case, instituted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, was adjourned by Justice Hauwau Buhari to June 24 to allow the prosecution serve court documents on the absent defendants.
El-Rufai was present in court for the proceedings, arriving alongside officials of the ICPC, operatives of the Department of State Services and police personnel.
The court was, however, unable to proceed with the matter due to the absence of the two co-defendants, leading to the postponement of the hearing.
Speaking with journalists after the proceedings, counsel to the former governor, Akpan Ubang (SAN), said the court did not take any substantive action on the matter.
According to him, the judge adjourned the case to enable the prosecution properly serve the charges on the co-defendants, whose absence stalled both their arraignment and further proceedings in the case.
“Apart from that, nothing of significance happened inside the court because they need to serve the co-defendants the charges, which made the case be adjourned to the 24th of this month,” Ubang said.
El-Rufai was granted bail on April 14 by Justice Rilwan Aikawa in the sum of N200 million, with conditions requiring two sureties, including a serving or retired civil servant not below Grade Level 15 and a recognised traditional ruler.
