The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Monday arraigned Nasir el-Rufai before a Kaduna high court on an amended nine-count charge bordering on alleged fraud and abuse of office.
In a dramatic turn, the anti-graft agency dropped one of the original defendants, Amadu Sule, leaving el-Rufai to face the charges alone.
Speaking to journalists after the court session, defence counsel Ukpong Abang said the new charges caught the legal team off guard, as they were served in court during proceedings.
“The charges are entirely new to us. They were given to us this morning while we were already in court. That is why the matter could not proceed to a hearing,” Abang said.
“The prosecution amended the charge and removed one person, leaving only Mallam el-Rufai to face prosecution.
“We will analyse the charges and make our position known. For now, there is nothing we can do until we have fully reviewed them.”
The presiding judge, Darius Khobo, took el-Rufai’s plea and adjourned the case to Tuesday, April 14, for hearing on his bail application.
El-Rufai is also expected to appear before the federal high court in Kaduna on the same day over a separate criminal charge filed by the ICPC.
The former governor had earlier, on March 24, been arraigned alongside Joel Adoga at the federal high court in Kaduna on charges bordering on alleged fraud and money laundering, where both defendants pleaded not guilty.
