Business
You Have Case To Answer, Court Tells El’Rufai
Attempts by the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, to have the corruption charges filed against him was Wednesday rejected by Justice Adamu Bello of the Federal High Court, OAU quarters, Abuja, who ruled instead that the trial must continue.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) had charged El-Rufai on an eight-count charge of criminal conspiracy and abuse of office while he was the FCT minister.
The Judge had ruled previously that the EFCC should paste charges against El-Rufai, 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 of the duo had long been served on them.
But at the resumed hearing, yesterday, counsel to El-Rufai, Akin Olujimi (SAN), raised a motion on jurisdiction, saying the judge lacks the jurisdiction to continue with the proceedings of the charges levelled at his client.
Olujimi further said he had since August 8, 2009 filed an application for lack of jurisdiction by 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.