The Federal High Court of Nigeria has fixed April 23 for the arraignment of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over alleged phone interception.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik set the new date after El-Rufai failed to appear in court. The court had earlier scheduled the arraignment for February 25.
Counsel for the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwole Aladedoyin, told the court that the former governor remains in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The agency is investigating him over alleged fund mismanagement.
The DSS filed a three-count charge against El-Rufai. The charge followed comments he made during a television interview. In the interview, he claimed that he and others listened to phone calls linked to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
He admitted that such interception is unlawful. However, he argued that illegal surveillance is common. The Federal Government disagrees and described the act as a breach of the law.
The charge sheet lists the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the complainant. It names El-Rufai as the defendant.
The court will now proceed with the arraignment on April 23. Legal analysts say the case could test key issues around national security and the rule of law.
