20th October, 2010
The trial of former Federal Capital Territory Minister; Mallam Nasir el Rufai before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja this morning suffered a set back as the court has declined jurisdiction to try the former minister who was alleged to have abused his office by revoking parcels land allocated to Power Holding Company of Nigeria and allocating same to his wives and cronies.
El Rufai and 2 others who were in charge of land matters while he held sway at the helm of affairs at the FCT Ministry were charged before the court on the provisions of the ICPC Act of 2004. They were alleged to have abused their offices as they conducted official functions in such manners as to enrich themselves.
The former minister challenged his trial before the Federal High Court stating that the ICPC Act provides for trial of alleged contraventions to be conducted at a state High Court of the FCT High Court in the case of the Federal Capital Territory. He urged the court to decline jurisdiction as it lacks the jurisdiction to try him.
At the ruling this morning, trial judge; Justice Adamu Bello, agreed with the former Minister on the provisions of the ICPC Act and declined jurisdiction over the matter. The judge dismissed the charge against the former Minister and his co travelers for want of jurisdiction.