By Lucky Uto
The Department of State Services (DSS) on Wednesday denied claims that former Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, was ever in its custody, as a Federal High Court in Abuja adjourned his arraignment to April 23.
El-Rufai was absent in court when the matter came up for hearing, prompting Justice (name not stated) to fix a new date for his arraignment on a three-count charge filed by the secret police.
The charges border on the alleged unlawful interception of a telephone conversation, reportedly linked to remarks the former governor made during a television interview.
The case had earlier been scheduled for February 25 following the filing of charges by the DSS.
However, the defendant did not appear in court on the appointed date, and his legal representation was also not immediately clear during proceedings.
Reacting to reports circulating in sections of the media and social media suggesting that El-Rufai had been detained or held by the agency ahead of the court session, the DSS issued a denial, stating that the former governor “was never in our custody.”
The agency did not provide further details on El-Rufai’s whereabouts or the circumstances surrounding his absence from court, but maintained that it was prepared to proceed with the prosecution once he appears for arraignment.
Legal observers note that arraignment marks the formal reading of charges before a defendant, who is then required to enter a plea.
The adjournment effectively delays the commencement of trial proceedings in the case until the next court date in April.
El-Rufai, who served as Kaduna governor from 2015 to 2023 and later held the position of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has not publicly responded to the latest court development as of press time.
