The Federal High Court in Kaduna has scheduled a hearing for July 17 on Nasir El-Rufai’s basic rights claim against the state House of Assembly and others.
El-Rufai is involved in the lawsuit, pleading with the court to overturn an Assembly report indicting him for N423 billion in stealing.
In the suit through his lawyer, Abdulhakeem Mustapha, El-Rufai argued that the Assembly breached his right to a fair hearing by not inviting him in the course of the probe.
He is urging the court to declare the report of the Assembly’s ad hoc committee indicting it null and void.
Attorney Sani Katu (SAN), representing the state Assembly, said he was preparing a preliminary objection when the issue was brought before the court on Monday. Katu further stated that the Assembly would be contesting the court’s authority to hear El-Rufai’s lawsuit.
Sani, therefore, requested an extension of time to enable him to file all the necessary applications.
The Kaduna State Attorney General, Sule Shauaibu (SAN), who is a defendant in the case, made a similar application.
El-Rufai’s lawyer, Sule Umoru, did not oppose the applications for an extension of time.
Consequently, Justice R.M. Aikawa adjourned the case till July 17 for hearing.
On June 5, 2024, the Kaduna State House of Assembly established an ad hoc committee to look into all financial matters, loans, and contracts given out under El-Rufai. The committee indicted the former governor and a few of his subordinates for embezzling N423 billion in public funds.
