The arraignment of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, was stalled on Wednesday, following his absence in court, with the trial judge, Justice Joyce Abdumalik, adjourning the matter to April 23, 2026.
El-Rufai was scheduled to be arraigned for alleged cybercrime and breach of the Communications Act.
However, El-Rufai was not in court when the DSS case against him was called.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Oluwole Aladedoye, informed the court that the former governor was still with the Independent Corrupt and Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC. ICPC is also investigating the ex-governor over different matters.
Aladedoye said the DSS has no control over the sister agency and requested an adjournment to March 23.
Counsel to El-Rufai, Oluwole Iyamu, did not oppose adjournment but vehemently demanded for bail for the former governor.
He cited several authorities to back up the request for bail.
The DSS lawyer however opposed the bail request on the ground that it was premature, adding that the issue of bail can only be raised after the formal arraignment.
Justice Abdulmalik after taking the arguments declined to grant the bail request, adding that her court was not yet adjudicating the matter.
The judge held that since the defendant had not yet been arraigned, the issue of bail could not arise.
Citing Section 156 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (2015), the judge described the bail application as premature.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter to April 23, 2026, for arraignment.
The Department of State Services, DSS, filed the charge against El-Rufai over his alleged involvement in wiretapping the telephone lines of the National Security Adviser, NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
In the three-count charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026 was filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, the secret police accused the former governor of breaching the Cybercrimes Prohibition Act, (2024), and the Nigerian Communications Act (2003.)
cpcnews.org 