By Akinsuroju Olubunmi
El-Rufai’s suit in fraud case faces dismissal request
A Federal High Court in Kaduna State has reserved judgment on the case filed by former governor Nasir El-Rufai, who seeks to nullify the report of an ad-hoc committee of the state assembly that indicted his administration in an alleged N423bn fraud.
El-Rufai argues that the assembly breached his right to a fair hearing by not inviting him during the probe. His lawyer, Abdulhakeem Mustapha, has urged the court to declare the committee’s report null and void. However, during Thursday’s court session, all respondents prayed for the court to dismiss the suit.
Counsel for the assembly, Femi Falana, SAN, contended that the court lacks jurisdiction over the fundamental rights case filed by El-Rufai. The Kaduna State Commissioner of Justice, Sule Shuaibu SAN, also filed objections, arguing the court should dismiss the case due to a lack of jurisdiction and cause of action.
Both respondents highlighted that the report of the Kaduna State House of Assembly was not presented before the court. Consequently, they requested the dismissal of the suit for lacking merit. The presiding judge, Justice RM Aikawa, stated that a judgment date would be communicated to the involved parties.
This development follows the assembly’s recommendation for the investigation of El-Rufai and his aides by relevant security agencies, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission setting up a panel to probe the alleged fraud.
El-Rufai’s Suit in Fraud Case Faces Dismissal Request