Court Orders ICPC To Produce El-Rufai For Tuesday’s Hearing

The Kaduna State High Court on Monday directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to produce former Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai at the next hearing in his ongoing trial after he was absent from court.

The presiding judge, Justice Darius Khobo, gave the directive after the prosecution and defence agreed to adjourn the case until Tuesday, October 13, at 12 noon.

Speaking shortly after the court session, ICPC lead counsel, Ayodeji Adedipe, said the prosecution had expected El-Rufai to be present despite a request by his lead defence counsel, Paul Erokoro, for an adjournment.

Adedipe explained that Erokoro had requested the adjournment to enable him to attend the swearing-in ceremony for a new set of Senior Advocates of Nigeria at the Supreme Court.

He said the defence counsel had communicated his inability to attend the proceedings and indicated that the parties could return to court on Tuesday.

According to Adedipe, the prosecution agreed to the adjournment for Monday but expected the former governor to be present.

“We had expected the defendant to be in court, even though his counsel had given an excuse not to be in court,” he said.

The ICPC counsel said he contacted the commission to ascertain why El-Rufai, who was in its custody, was absent from court.

According to him, the commission informed him that the former governor had said he needed to see his doctor for a review of medical test results.

“They informed me that this morning the defendant said he would not come to court because he needed to go and see his doctor for a review of some medical tests he had done and because of that he would not be in court,” Adedipe said.

He said the information was subsequently communicated to the court.

Adedipe added that the prosecution and defence had agreed to return on Tuesday, although they initially differed on the time for the next sitting.

Adedipe said the court directed that the defendant and all counsel be present at the next hearing.

The ICPC counsel said the parties would return as agreed.

The case was adjourned until Tuesday, October 13, at 12 noon.