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By y Lawrence Agbo
Nasir el-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna bail request was adjourned till March 31 by the Federal High Court in Kaduna.
El-Rufai appeared before the court on Tuesday on suspicion of money laundering and conversion of public property.
The money laundering charges were levied against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
El-Rufai was led into the courtroom about 10 minutes after he arrived at the court in a Hilux vehicle, which was escorted by security operatives at about 9:00 and was held in the car for about 25 minutes
Before the court hearing, heavy security operatives were stationed in and around the court premises.
Counsel to El-Rufai Ukpon Akpan asked the court during proceedings to grant bail to his client in order to prepare for his defense.
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Unfortunately, the argument was rejected by the prosecution counsel who pleaded that the bail could interfere with the commission’s investigation.
After being freed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the former governor has been under the ICPC’s custody since February 19.
There have been multiple requests for el-Rufai’s release or arraignment since his arrest.
Citing his right to remain silent, the former governor declined to answer questions from investigators while in ICPC custody.
The magistrate court prolonged el-Rufai’s initial remand order by an additional 14 days on March 5.
El-Rufai filed a basic rights lawsuit at the federal high court in Abuja about the ICPC’s search of his home and the February 19 remand order.
