Funso Muraina
7 May 2009
Abuja — The case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja against former minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, suffered a setback yesterday due to the former minister's absence.
El-Rufai's absence stalled the arraignment as arraignment of any accused person is not done in absentia.
El-Rufai's counsel, Abdulhakeem Mustapha, told Justice Adamu Bello that his client could not appear before the court because the charges filed against him had not been served on him.
He said an attempt was made to serve the charges on his client through him, but he declined because there is no provision in law that says counsel can accept court summons on behalf of their clients.
Mustapha urged the court to adjourn the case to enable the EFCC effect service on el-Rufai before the next adjourned date.
Justice Bello agreed with the submission of Mustapha and ordered the Commission to ensure that the former minister is served with a copy of the charge. He thereafter adjourned the case to June 11, 2009, for the plea of the accused person to be taken.
El-Rufai is wanted by the EFCC over alleged abuse of office, culminating in alleged N32 billion fraud and allocation of land to family members and cronies.
The Commission had declared el-Rufai wanted and had slammed an eight-count charge against him and two others, Altine Jubrin and Ismail Iro.
The Commission accused the former minister of using his office to corruptly re-allocate parcels of land which originally belonged to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) Plc and NIPOST to his wives, Hadiza and Asia Ahmed el-Rufai, as well as associates such as Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, Saidu Samaila, Philip Daudu, Jamaila Alhassan and Bello Sani.
An evidence linking members of his family to 10 plots of land in Asokoro, Wuse 2, Maitama, Jabi, Kubwa, Bwari, and Utako is also in possession of the Commission.
Some of those who reportedly benefitted from the former FCT minister's land allocation are Hadiza Isma el-Rufai, Bashir el-Rufai, Aisa el-Rufai, Ibrahim el-Rufai, Binta el-Rufai and Tijjani Ahmed Rufai.
Some of the counts against el-Rufai and others read; That you Mallam Nasir Ahmed EI-Rufai (M) between 13th day of December 2003 and 14 day of December 2007 or thereabouts at the Ministry of Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in the course of and or in the performance of your official duties as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory did use your said office and position to gratify and confer corrupt or fair advantage' on your relation to wit: your wife - Hadiza Ahmed EI-Rufai by re-allocating to her parts of the parcel of land known as plot No 1201, Asokoro District (A4) Abuja, originally allocated in the Federal Capital Territory Master plan to Power Holding Company of Nigeria Plc for the construction of· transmitting/injection sub-stations which allocation you had wrongfully and or intentionally revoked for that purpose, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000;
That you Mallam Nasir Ahmed EI-Rufai (M) between 13th day of December, 2003 and 14th day of December, 2007 or thereabouts at the Ministry of Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in the course of and/or in the performance of your official duties as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory did use your said· office and position to gratify and confer corrupt or unfair advantage on your associates to wit: M Oil Limited, Philip Daudu, Saidu Samaila, Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, Jamaila Alhassan and Bello Sani by re-allocating to them parts of the parcel of land known as plot No 1201, Asokoro District (A4) Abuja, originally allocated in the Federal Capital Territory Master plan to Power Holding Company of Nigeria Plc for the construction of transmitting/injection sub-stations which allocation you had unlawfully and/or deliberately revoked for that purpose, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
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