A former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, on Monday, stated that he was determined to defend the land allocation case filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in 2009.
A statement by his Media Advisor, Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye, said, “When he returned to the country last year, el-Rufai had announced that the defence of that case is one of his priorities, and that remains the case.
“This robust defence led to the dismissal of the charges before the Federal High Court in Abuja last year, after the court agreed with his preliminary objection that the charges were filed in a wrong court and under a wrong law.”
He added that the EFCC’s defeat at the court was greeted with ‘predictable sniping,’ saying he took into account all the protections afforded him by the nation‘s laws and the rules of procedure at the courts.
Adekeye said, ‘‘These protections are legal, decent and civilised, and a citizen cannot be expected to ignore them to make the EFCC happy.
“The EFCC responded to this defeat by filing the case afresh before an Abuja High Court. El-Rufai filed a preliminary objection anchored on the EFCC‘s attempt to amend the charges after they discovered that they again filed under a wrong law.
“Justice Sadiq Umar has ruled against the preliminary objection and granted leave to the EFCC to amend the charges.
“He also fixed April 7, 2011 for the arraignment of the defendants on the fresh charges. El Rufai respects the ruling and intends to soldier on, confident in his innocence.”
The former minister also denied involvement in any corrupt activities, and urged the EFCC to desist from claims that there was any other prosecution against him other than this land case that is set to commence next month.
By Friday Olokor, Abuja Courtesy Of: Punch
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