…Court dismisses el-Rufai bail variation application
Embattled former Governor of Kaduna state, Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai who is facing five count amended wiretapping charges on Tuesday opted to file a “no case submission” as his own defence.
el-Rufai defence counsel Paul Erokoro SAN, told the trial court judge,Justice Joyce Abdulmalik that the defence intends to file a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution has failed to establish sufficient evidence against the former governor.
The defence would file a no case submission application as the prosecution counsel Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN, announced the closure of DSS’ case.
Aladedoye SAN, told the court during the trial session on Tuesday that the prosecution would not be calling further witnesses in the matter, beside the two witnesses that had testified.
Therefore, he applied to formally close the DSS case against the former governor in the ongoing alleged wiretapping case before the Federal High Court in Abuja
The defence subsequently sought two weeks to file the application, while the prosecution requested two weeks to respond and do the necessary filing.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik in her ruling fixed September 22 for hearing of the no case submission and continuation of proceedings,
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik had earlier on Tuesday refused el-Rufai application that sought to vary bail conditions imposed on him by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
el-Rufai’s lawyer had described the bail conditions as harsh, stringent, outlandish and difficult to meet.
The senior lawyer argued that the bail terms were too stringent, particularly the requirements for level 17 civil servants with properties in Maitama or Asokoro, as well as verification and attestation letters from the Kaduna state traditional council.
However, the prosecution opposed the request, insisting that qualified public officers who meet the conditions exist and urged the court to refuse the application.
The judge in her ruling on the application that sought
to relax the bail conditions
declined the request to vary the bail conditions, holding that there are civil servants who owns properties at the said location.