The trial in absentia of the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory; Mallam Nasir el Rufai commenced this morning before a Federal high Court sitting in Abuja.
The proceedings were however stalled following the refusal of counsels to the former Minister and Mrs Altine Jubrin; the former boss at the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS), to receive service on their behalves.
El Rufai amd Mrs Jubrin were absent from the proceedings, albeit represented by a team of lawyers who claimed that they don’t have their clients’ instruction to receive service on their behalves.
Mr. Ismaila Iro; the former General Manager of the Abuja Geographic Information System, who was present in court could not take his plea to the charges on the absence of his co travelers.
The former public officers were alleged on an 8 count charge to have contravened the provisions of section 26 (1) (c) of the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act 2000. They allegedly conspired to revoke plots of land belonging to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria which they reallocated to themselves, family members and cronies including Senator Iyabo Obasanjo – Bello; the daughter of the immediate past President Olusegun Obasanjo.
They were also alleged to have used their offices to confer unfair advantage to their associates and themselves through irregular revocation and reallocation of plots meant for the construction of Power Facilities in the Federal Capital City.
El Rufai was also alleged to have assisted his company; System Property Development Consortium Limited with plots of land belonging to the Nigerian Postal Services Plc using the same irregular revocation and reallocation technique.
Justice Adamu Bello adjourned proceedings to Thursday 11th June 2009 for plea taking to enable Federal Government enough time to effect personal service on the former Minister and the former boss of AGIS
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