The prosecution in the alleged treason trial involving former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has accused members of his family of allegedly using the media to incite public opinion against the judiciary over his detention and bail conditions. At the resumed hearing before the Federal High Court in Abuja, lead……
The prosecution in the alleged treason trial involving former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has accused members of his family of allegedly using the media to incite public opinion against the judiciary over his detention and bail conditions.
At the resumed hearing before the Federal High Court in Abuja, lead prosecuting counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, alleged that relatives of the former governor had repeatedly taken to social media and press platforms to portray the prosecution and security agencies as persecuting the defendant.
Aladedoye told the court that one of El-Rufai’s wives allegedly arrived at the ICPC facility on May 15 with cameramen and livestreamed claims that the former governor was being denied food and access to family members.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: El-Rufai’s Wife Arrived 30 Minutes After Close of Official Access, ICPC Clarifies
The prosecution also alleged that politician, Timi Frank, published statements suggesting that El-Rufai’s life could be in danger while in custody, a development it said forced security operatives to transfer the former governor to DSS custody to avoid further controversy.
According to the prosecution, the situation worsened when two of the defendant’s wives and his son reportedly visited the DSS headquarters with journalists and publicly criticised the court’s bail conditions.
Aladedoye argued that rather than pursuing legal channels, members of the defendant’s family allegedly resorted to media campaigns capable of undermining public confidence in the judiciary.
The prosecution subsequently urged the court to caution El-Rufai and his family against further public comments on the matter, insisting that the case before the court was a criminal prosecution and not political persecution.
Responding, defence counsel said he was unaware of the allegations raised by the prosecution and maintained that the defendant should not be held responsible for comments made outside the courtroom.
He, however, assured the court that the defence team would advise family members and sympathisers to exercise restraint.
Reacting, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik said she pays no attention to narratives circulating on social media, stressing that issues online should remain outside courtroom proceedings.
The judge thereafter directed that the trial should continue.
During the proceedings, the prosecution tendered a silver flash drive and a certificate of compliance, which were admitted as Exhibits B and B1 respectively.
The court later previewed the contents of the flash drive, said to contain an interview allegedly granted by El-Rufai to a television station.
