By Sabiu Abdullahi
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have taken former Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, into custody at the federal high court in Kaduna.
El-Rufai appeared in court on Wednesday after operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) brought him forward for a hearing on his bail request.
The DSS later assumed custody of the former governor after the court adjourned its ruling on the bail application until April 14.
The ICPC had earlier arraigned el-Rufai alongside Joel Adoga on March 24 over allegations related to fraud and money laundering. Both defendants denied the charges when they were presented before the court.
After the session, Oluwole Iyamu, counsel to el-Rufai, expressed optimism about the outcome of the pending decision.
“The bail application was argued and responded to, and the ruling has been fixed for April 14. We look forward to that day. We are hopeful,” he said.
“We have put our arguments before the court, and this is a court of justice. We await the decision of the court.”
Iyamu also addressed another case involving the DSS, which is scheduled for April 10 at the federal high court in Abuja. He stated that the legal team is prepared for the proceedings.
“That is a separate matter. As lawyers, we are ready. We have filed all necessary processes and will be in court. That is the DSS matter,” he said.
Earlier in February, the DSS filed a three-count charge against el-Rufai over allegations of unlawful interception of a telephone conversation. The case followed remarks he made during a television interview.
While speaking on ‘Prime Time’, a programme on Arise Television, el-Rufai alleged that “someone wiretapped” Nuhu Ribadu’s phone, which allowed him to hear instructions from the National Security Adviser directing security operatives to arrest him.