Corruption: el-Rufai has case to answer - Court

05.11.2009

ATTEMPTS by the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, to have the corruption charges filed against him quashed failed on Wednesday, as Justice Adamu Bello of the Federal High Court, OAU Quarters, Abuja, ruled that the trial must continue.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had preferred an eight-count charge of criminal conspiracy and abuse of office against the former FCT minister.

The judge had ruled previously that the EFCC should paste charges against the former FCT minister on the wall of his residence at 12 Mambila Street, Maitama, Abuja, following his failure to make himself available for service of court papers.

Two other persons, who are being prosecuted alongside el-Rufai, are Altine Jubrin, former Director General, Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS) and Ismaila Iro, former General Manager, AGIS. The summons against the duo had long been served on them.

But at the resumed hearing on Wednesday, counsel for el-Rufai, Akin Olujimi, SAN, raised a motion on jurisdiction. He said the judge lacked the jurisdiction to continue hearing the case.

Olujimi further said that he had, since August 8, 2009, filed an application challenging the jurisdiction of the court. EFCC lawyer, Adebayo Adelokun, SAN, however, told the court that the application could not stand, as he only got the said application the previous day.

In his short ruling, Justice Bello said that the application seeking to quash the charges lacked merit and, therefore, could not stand. He said el- Rufai must make himself available for trial, more so that the counsel for the second and the third, accused, E. C. Din and Peter Ofikwu, aligned with the position of the court.

The judge then adjourned the case to December 8, 2009 for the adoption of addresses by the counsel.