Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has adjourned the arraignment of former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, to April 23.

The Department of State Services (DSS) filed a three-count charge against El-Rufai over the alleged unlawful interception of communications, following remarks he made during a television interview. The court had earlier scheduled February 25 for his arraignment.

El-Rufai was absent from Wednesday’s proceedings.

Counsel to the DSS, Mr. Oluwole Aladedoyin, informed the court that the former governor remains in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), where he is being investigated for alleged misappropriation of funds.

In view of his absence, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter to April 23 for arraignment.

Last week, the Federal Government, through the DSS, filed the three-count charge against the former governor over the alleged interception of communications belonging to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

In a recent interview, El-Rufai claimed that he and other unnamed individuals listened to conversations from Ribadu’s phone after it had allegedly been tapped by a third party. While acknowledging that such interception is technically unlawful, he argued that illegal surveillance was not unusual.

According to the charge, a copy of which was made available to Outlook Nigeria, the government stated that El-Rufai admitted that he and his associates allegedly intercepted the NSA’s phone conversations.

The charge, filed at the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Abuja Judicial Division, lists the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the complainant and Mallam Nasir El-Rufai as the defendant.