The Federal High Court in Kaduna has rejected a lawsuit filed by former Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, aimed at invalidating the ad-hoc committee report from the Kaduna State House of Assembly.
The ruling, delivered on July 30, 2024, by Justice R. M. Aikawa, found that El-Rufai failed to provide sufficient grounds to overturn the proceedings.
El-Rufai had sought to annul the court’s proceedings from July 18, 2024, arguing lack of jurisdiction and procedural errors.
He also requested a new hearing date for pending applications. However, the court deemed his reasons for an adjournment unsubstantiated and dismissed his application as lacking merit. The request for the judge’s recusal was also denied due to insufficient grounds.
The court concluded it lacked subject matter jurisdiction and, in accordance with Section 22(2) of the Federal High Court Act, transferred the case to the Chief Judge of Kaduna State for adjudication by the High Court of Kaduna State.
The ruling stated that adjournments are not automatic and must be justified, with the judge having discretion over whether to grant or refuse them.
The court found that El-Rufai did not meet the criteria for a valid adjournment and that his application was without merit.
The suit, numbered FHC/KD/CS/55/2024, was filed against the Kaduna State House of Assembly and the Attorney-General of Kaduna State.
Femi Falana, SAN, and Sani Katu, SAN, represented the Assembly, while Sule Shuaibu, SAN, and Jummai Danazumi represented the Attorney-General.
El-Rufai’s case, challenging a report from the state House of Assembly accusing him of a N423 billion theft, was adjourned to July 17.
El-Rufai contended that the Assembly’s probe violated his right to a fair hearing by not including him in the investigation.