The “Accidental Public Servant” is back in the eye of the storm. Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai was hauled before an Abuja Federal High Court today, where the DSS dramatically increased the heat by amending their case against him.
Previously facing three counts, El-Rufai is now staring down a five-count charge bordering on national security threats. Despite the weight of the allegations, the former governor remained defiant, entering a “not guilty” plea to every count read by the court registrar.
Drama in the Courtroom: The session wasn’t without its hitches. While the DSS’s top gun, Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN, wanted to hit the ground running with back-to-back trial dates, El-Rufai’s legal team threw up a roadblock. Lead defense lawyer Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, reminded the court that El-Rufai is currently “juggling” custody, as he is also being held by the ICPC.
“Three days in a row might work for the prosecution, but it doesn’t work for justice,” Iyamu argued, citing difficulties in accessing his client while he’s in the ICPC net.
The morning ended in a cliffhanger when the judge discovered a missing affidavit for the bail application. The court was forced into a brief recess to let the lawyers “do the needful” and find the missing paperwork. For now, the man who once ran Kaduna stays behind bars as the legal chess match intensifies.
