A Federal High Court in Abuja has postponed the arraignment of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai on cybercrime charges to April 23 after he was unable to appear due to an ongoing investigation by the ICPC.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja has rescheduled the arraignment of Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, to April 23. The postponement was necessary as El-Rufai was currently with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for investigation. The Department of State Services (DSS) informed the court that it has no control over the ICPC, leading to their request for an adjournment.
The DSS had sought to arraign El-Rufai for alleged cybercrimes and violations of the Nigerian Communication Act. During the proceedings, the DSS's counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN, emphasized that El-Rufai's absence hindered the arraignment process. His defense attorney, Mr. Oluwole Iyamu, did not oppose this adjournment but requested bail for El-Rufai citing legal precedents to support the motion.
The court's decision to push back the arraignment highlights ongoing tensions in Nigeria's political landscape, particularly regarding the accountability of public officials. As El-Rufai faces serious allegations of cybersecurity violations, the case underscores the broader issues of governance, integrity, and the rule of law in Nigeria, especially in the context of the increasing scrutiny of former officials in the country.
