₦432bn probe report: Court adjourns El-Rufai’s case against Kaduna Assembly till July 17

A Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has adjourned hearing on the case filed by former governor of the state, Nasir El-Rufai, against the State House of Assembly and Attorney General of the State.

Topnaija.ng reports that the former governor is challenging the House committee’s report which accused him of stealing N423 billion while in office.

At the commencement of the hearing of the case on Monday, July 8, counsel to the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Sani Katu (SAN), informed the court that they are in the process of filing a notice of preliminary objection, challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case.

The counsel, therefore, requested an extension of time to enable them to file all their applications on the case filed against El-Rufai.

The plea was also advanced by the Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General of Kaduna State, Sule Shauaibu, SAN, who is a defendant in the case.

On his part, counsel to the applicant, Sule Umoru, did not oppose the application for the extension of time.

After listening to all the submissions made by the counsels, the presiding judge, Justice R.M Aikawa, adjourned the case to July 17th, 2024, to enable the respondents to file all their applications including the substantive application.

Recall that El-Rufai had on June 26, filed a case at the Federal High Court Kaduna to challenge the probe report of the Kaduna State House of Assembly which indicted him for corruption during his eight years of administration.

The former governor asked the court to declare the Assembly report null and void for violating his right to a fair hearing as guaranteed under the constitution, since he was not invited by the House to defend himself against all the allegations levelled against him.