The Department of State Services has arraigned former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over allegations of unlawfully accessing a telephone conversation involving the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
El-Rufai, who had served as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, is being prosecuted on an amended five-count charge before a Federal High Court in Abuja.
At the commencement of proceedings presided by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, on Thursday, the prosecution informed the court that the charges had been increased from three to five counts.
When the case was called, DSS lawyer, Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN, informed the court that the matter was fixed for the defendant to take his plea.
Aladedoye, however, told the court that a further amended five-count charge was filed on April 13.
The lawyer prayed the court to substitute it with the earlier three-count charge.
“We pray that the earlier charge be struck out, my lord,” he said.
Responding, El-Rufai’s counsel, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, said he had been served with the amended charge and that he was not opposing.