The Department of State Services, DSS, has finally arraigned former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, on a five-count amended charge bordering on alleged breach of national security.
El-Rufai, who was arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal Highway Court in Abuja, however pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
When the case was called, counsel to the DSS, Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN, informed the court that the matter was fixed for the defendant to take his plea.
Aladedoye, however, told the court that a further amended five-count charge was filed on April 13, 2026.
The lawyer prayed the court to substitute it with the earlier three-count charge.
Responding, counsel to El-Rufai, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, said he had been served with the amended charge and that he was not opposing.
The judge then struck out the earlier three-count charge.
After the counts were read to the former governor, he pleaded not guilty and Aladedoye sought three consecutive dates for trial of the accused person.
Iyamu, however, objected to the application for three consecutive days for the trial.
He submitted that since the defendant had been in the custody of Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), having access to him within the three days of the trial might be difficult.
According to him, the three days might not be in their best interest.
Iyamu also informed the court of their bail application filed on February 17, 2026.
However, the further affidavit in support of the bail application was not in the court’s file and the judge stood down the matter for Iyamu to do the needful.
Upon resumption after the case was stood down, the further affidavit was located.
The DSS stated it did not oppose the bail application.
Prosecution then moved an application seeking an order to conceal the identities of two witnesses expected to testify.
The DSS requested that the identities of the witnesses should not appear in public court records, and that pseudonyms should be used during trial.
The prosecution argued the witnesses’ families could be vulnerable to attack from persons sympathetic to El-Rufai.
The defence opposed the request through an application, written address, and further affidavit, asking the court to dismiss it. It insisted that it is the constitutional right of an accused person to know his accusers.
The defence further submitted that there was no evidence before the court showing El-Rufai had any cult-like followership or posed a threat, as alleged by the prosecution.
The defence counsel said the defendant had dedicated his life to public service and warned that granting a blanket anonymity order could create serious prejudice against the accused.
The former Kaduna governor’s defence team also applied for an order directing the prosecution to furnish it with proof of evidence to prepare for trial.
The prosecution opposed that request through a counter-affidavit, arguing that the materials sought by the defence were documents unrelated to the prosecution’s filed processes.
The defence informed the court it had also filed an application to quash the charge.
