Abuja — A Federal High Court in Abuja will on February 9, 2010 determine whether to issue a bench warrant against former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Nasir el-Rufai.
The court presided over by Justice Adamu Bello would also be ruling on whether charges preferred against el- Rufai was in order or otherwise. The commission had in December 2008 declared the former minister wanted.
At the resumed hearing of the case yesterday filed against the former minister, counsel to EFCC, Adebayo Adelodun( SAN), prayed the court to issue bench warrant against el-Rufai for repeatedly failing to appear before the court to defend himself on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy and abuse of office preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Two other accused persons, Altine Jubrin, former Director -General of the Abuja Geographical Information System (AGIS) and Ismailia Iro, former General Manager, AGIS, were in court today when the case came up.
Responding to the EFCC counsel's prayer, defence lawyer, Akin Olujimi (SAN), prayed the court to dismiss the application filed by the anti- graft agency which seeks to compel the former minister to make himself available for trial.
However, counsel to EFCC, in his own submission stated that the application brought forward by the defence counsel should be dismissed since the defence counsel had earlier adopted the 17-paragraph counter affidavit with addresses.
According to him, "the accused person decides to be slippery, jumping from one country to the other, trying to take advantage of some allowance in the law to avoid coming to court to answer the charges against him. He is aware that there are charges leveled against him. If he has no skeleton in his cupboard, let him come over to Nigeria and answer his case".
Having heard both counsel, Presiding Judge, Justice Adamu Bello, fixed February 9, 2010, for ruling on the matter.
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El-Rufai should not come to Nigeria unless the EFCC can sign Memoradum of Understandind stating that he will not be kiiled by Nigerian Security Forces. The life of En-Rufai is not safe in Nigeria under the current dispensation. I will not be surpriised if one day after the arrival of the man in Nigeria he is is declared dead in police custody, extra judicioal killing is stock in trade of the police force in this country and the police will only say he is killed while trying to run way from them.
The Lawyers are there representing the man in the court of law, let the court decide about the fate of this man. The problem Nigeia is currently facing is more than El-Rufai. El-Rufai should learn from the mistake of others, Musa Yaraduac died in prison under Abacha rule and the current people in power can kill to silent their antagonists.
I believe in Rule of Law, but Nigeria Judicial system is less than perfect. Some Judges are God fearing and fearless but when you want to dine with the devil you must have long spoon. Some Judges will state that their hands are tye after delivering senseless judgement. Chief Obafemi Awolowo was sent to prison by a Judge whose hands were presumblly tyed by the power that be then. General Vatsa was sent to his death by the Chairman and members of the Military Tribunal that tried him despite the fact that it was a trump up charges, the rest is history.
I don't say El-Rufai is a saint per say, but the current situation doesn't quarrante good judgement.