BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI
ABUJA—An Abuja High Court in Maitama, yesterday, fixed October 18 to rule on an application that was filed before it by the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, seeking to quash an 8-count criminal charge that was preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The former Minister is facing trial alongside two other accused persons over allegations bothering on conspiracy, fraud and gross abuse of public office.

The anti-graft agency alleged that he connived with the former Director General of the Abuja Geographical Information Systems, AGIS, Mrs. Altine Jubril and the former General Manager of the establishment, Ismaila Iro to fraudulently allocated several plots of land to his wives, relatives and cronies whilst he held sway as the Minister of the FCT between 1999 to 2007.

El-Rufai who was arraigned by EFCC on April 7, was immediately released on self recognition by the court, even though his two co-accused persons were mandated to deposit N50 million each to the court registrar as bond.

However, full blown hearing is yet to commence on the matter owing to the absence of the ex-minister who was said to be outside the country, a situation that warranted the trial judge, Justice Sadiq Umar, to order his counsel, Chief Akin Olujimi, SAN, to ensure that he was present in court yesterday for the continuation of his trial.

Meanwhile, El-Rufai who appeared in court yesterday, had earlier instructed his lawyer to apply for all the charges to be quashed, contending that the anti-graft commission failed to establish a prima-facie nexus between him and the alleged offence.

He equally maintained that the charge against him was persecutory, adding that it amounted to an abuse of court process.

Likewise, the 3rd accused persons in the matter, Mr Iro, also pleaded the court to dismiss the case against him for want of incriminating evidence.

At the resumed hearing of the mater yesterday, counsel to both accused persons took time to adduce reasons why their trial should be terminated forthwith.

Their applications were vehemently opposed by the prosecuting counsel, Mr Abdulrahman Adeyi, who urged the High court to discountenance their submissions and proceed with hearing the substantive suit on its merit.

The EFCC maintained that the conduct of the former Minister as a public servant, ran contrary to section 2 and 19 of the ICPC Act.

Whereas the 2nd accused person, Jubril, was said to have used her position as the then Director-General of the Abuja Geographic Information System, AGIS, to approve the illegal re-allocation of the said plots of land that were taken away from the original owners, the 3rdaccused person, Iro, according to the EFCC, used his position as the General Manager of AGIS, to facilitate the transfer of the title deeds of the land to all the allotees anointed by the ex-Minister.

The anti-graft agency maintained that the offence they allegedly committed is punishable under section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

Some of the charge against them reads, “that you, Mallam Nasir Ahmed EI Rufai (M) between 13 day of December,  2003’ and 14th  day of December, 2007 or thereabout, at the Ministry of Federal Capital Territory Abuja, in the course of and/ or in the performance of your duties as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, did use your said office and position to gratify and confer corrupt or unfair advantage on your relation to wit: your wife Hadiza Ahmed EI Rufai by re-allocating to her parts of the parcel of land known as plot No1201, Asokoro District (A4) Abuja, originally allocated in the Federal Capital Territory master plan to Power Holding Company of Nigeria Plc for the construction of transmitting/injection sub- stations which allocation you had wrongfully and/or intentionally revoked for that purpose, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.

“That you, Mallam Nasir Ahmed EI Rufai (M) between 13th  day of December, 2003 and 14th  day of December, 2007 or thereabout, at The Ministry of Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, in the course of and/ or in the performance of your official duties as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory did use your said office and position to gratify and confer sormpt or unfair advantage on your associates to wit: M Oil Limited, Philip’ Dauda, Saidu Satnaila, Iyabo Obasanjo Bello, Jamaila Alhassan and Bello Said, by re-allocating to them parts of the parcel of land known as plot No 1201, Asokoro District Abuja (A4), originally allocated in the Federal Capital Territory master plan to Power Holding Company of Nigeria PIc for the Construction of transmitting/injection sub-stations which allocation you had wrongfully and/or intentionally revoked for that purpose, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.

“That you, Mallam Nasir Ahmed El Rufai (M) between 13th day of December, 2003 and 14th  day of December, 2007 or thereabout, at The Ministry of Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, in the course of and/ or in the performance of your official duties as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory did use your said Office and position to gratify and confer corrupt or unfair advantage on your relation to wit: your wife -Asia Ahmed EI Rufai by re-allocating to her parts of the parcel of land known as plot No 1201, Asokoro District (A’4) Abuja, originally allocated in the Federal Capital Territory master plan to Power Holding Company of Nigeria Plc for the Construction of transmitting/injection sub-stations which allocation you had and/or intentionally revoked for that purpose, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act  2000”.