April 01, (THEWILL) — A Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna State has fixed April 14 for ruling on the bail application filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, as proceedings in his ongoing trial continue over alleged financial misconduct.
Lead defence counsel, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing journalists shortly after the court session.
El-Rufai is currently standing trial before Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa on a 10-count charge of alleged conversion and possession of public property, as well as money laundering allegations.
The matter was earlier adjourned on Tuesday, before proceedings resumed on Wednesday. Iyamu said the bail application had been fully argued by both the prosecution and defence teams, after which the court adjourned for ruling.
“The bail application was argued and responded to, and the ruling on that bail has been fixed for the 14th of April”, Iyamu stated.
He expressed optimism over the outcome of the application, insisting that the defence team had presented its arguments convincingly before the court.
“Any lawyer will be hopeful. We are hopeful. We have put our arguments before the court, and this is a court of justice. We look forward to the decision of the court”, he added.
Iyamu also confirmed that the defence is fully prepared for a separate matter scheduled for April 10 at the Federal High Court in Abuja, noting that all necessary processes had already been filed.
“That’s a separate one. As lawyers, we are ready. We have filed the necessary papers and we will be there”, he said, explaining that the case involves the Department of State Services (DSS).
THEWILL earlier reported that the DSS had filed a three-count charge against El-Rufai, accusing him of unlawfully intercepting the telephone communications of the National Security Adviser (NSA), in a move said to threaten national security.
The charges alleged that the former governor collaborated with other individuals currently at large to intercept the NSA’s calls, in violation of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
He is accused in one count of admitting involvement in the alleged interception during a February 3 appearance on Prime Time, a programme aired on Arise Television. This alleged act violates Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes Act. In a second count, the prosecution alleged that El-Rufai, described as a leading figure among opposition politicians critical of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, had knowledge of the unlawful interception but failed to report it to the relevant authorities. The third count accused him of using technical equipment to intercept the NSA’s calls in a manner that endangered public safety and created “reasonable apprehension” among Nigerians, contrary to Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
In an application filed in response to Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, El-Rufai had urged the court to strike out the suit instituted against him, arguing that the allegations fail to disclose any offence recognised under Nigerian law.
Security remained tight throughout Wednesday’s proceedings, with armed operatives maintaining order and restricting movement within the court vicinity.
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