TRIAL OF NASIR EL-RUFAI RESUMES

TRIAL OF NASIR EL-RUFAI RESUMES

THE HIGH COURT OF KADUNA STATE HAS ADJOURNED THE ACCELERATED HEARING OF THE TEN COUNTS CHARGE AGAINST THE FORMER KADUNA STATE, NASIR EL-RUFAI, JIMI LAWAL AND ONE OTHER HAS BEEN ADJOURNED TO 3OTH NOVEMBER AND 1ST DECEMBER, 2026

JUSTICE DARIUS KHOBO GAVE THE ORDER AFTER THE PROSECUTION OPENED ITS CASE AGAINST THE DEFENDANTS IN A MATTER INSTITUTED BY THE INDEPENDENT CORRUPT PRACTICES AND OTHER RELATED OFFENCES COMMISSION.

THE PROSECUTION CALLED ITS FIRST WITNESS WHO IS A FORENSIC ANALYST.

DURING THE EVIDENCE IN CHIEF, THE PROSECUTION TENDERED TWO TAPES WHERE NASIR EL-RUFAL ALLEGEDLY GAVE THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE COMMISSION OF THE FINANCIAL CRIMES.

THE DEFENCE COUNSEL, PAUL EROKORO, SAN OBJECTED TO THE TENDERING OF THE TAPES.

THE OBJECTION OF THE DEFENCE COUNSEL WAS HOWEVER OVERRULED BY THE COURT.

THE COURT THEREAFTER ACCEPTED THE TAPES AS EVIDENCE.

EL-RUFAI IS FACING TRIAL ON A -NINE-COUNT CHARGE BORDERING ON ALLEGED CORRUPTION AND OTHER FINANCIAL OFFENCES LINKED TO TRANSACTIONS AND DECISIONS DURING THE DEFENDANT’S TENURE AS GOVERNOR OF KADUNA STATE BETWEEN 2015 AND 2023.

THE RESUMED HEARING COMES DAYS AFTER THE COURT OF APPEAL IN KADUNA DISMISSED EL-RUFAI’S APPEAL CHALLENGING THE REFUSAL OF BAIL BY THE HIGH COURT OF KADUNA STATE.

IN ITS JUDGMENT DELIVERED ON OCTOBER 9, A THREE-MEMBER PANEL OF THJER INTERMEDIATE COURT UNANIMOUSLY HELD THAT THE FORMER GOVERNOR FAILED TO ESTABLISH FRESH FACTS OR SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES WARRANTING INTERFERENCE WITH THE LOWER COURT’S DECISION.

NASIR EL-RUFAL HAD EARLIER BEEN GRANTED BAIL BUT YET TO MEET HIS BAIL CONDITIONS.