The State Security Service on Thursday arraigned former Governor Nasir El-Rufai on a five-count amended charge bordering on an alleged breach of national security.

Mr El-Rufai, who was arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

When the case was called, SSS lawyer Oluwole Aladedoye informed the court that the matter was set for the defendant to enter his plea.

Mr Aladedoye, however, told the court that a further amended five-count charge was filed on April 13.

The lawyer prayed the court to substitute it with the earlier three-count charge.

“We pray that the earlier charge be struck out, my lord,” he said.

Responding, Mr El-Rufai’s counsel, Oluwole Iyamu, said he had been served with the amended charge and was not opposing it.

The judge then struck out the earlier three-count charge.

After the counts were read to the former Kaduna governor, he pleaded not guilty, and Mr Aladedoye sought three consecutive trial dates.

Mr Iyamu, however, objected to the application for three consecutive days to commence the trial.

He submitted that since the defendant had been in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, accessing him within the three days of the trial might be difficult.

“The three days might not be in our best interest,” he said.

Mr Iyamu also informed the court of their bail application filed on February 17.

However, a further affidavit supporting the bail application was not in the court file, so the judge stood down the matter for Mr Iyamu to complete the necessary steps.

(NAN)