Abu Umar 

The Federal High Court in Abuja  on Tuesday reserved ruling on the no-case submission filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in his ongoing trial over alleged unlawful interception of a telephone communication. 

At the resumed hearing,  the prosecution and defence lawyers adopted their respective positions on El-Rufai’s no-case submission.

The prosecuting counsel, Mr Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN, told the court that the business of the day was for El-Rufai to adopt his no-case submission.

Counsel to El-Rufai, Mr Akinyemi Aremu, who announced that the defence team was led by Mr Paul Erokoro, SAN, told the court that Erokoro had prayed for the matter to be stood down as he was still on his way to court.

The trial judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, however, refused the request, saying, “I do not do stand downs”.

Aremu subsequently sought the court’s permission for his co-counsel, Mr Ekere, to handle the proceedings.

Ekere then moved a motion seeking an extension of time to deem the defendant’s no-case submission properly filed and served.

The judge granted the application and deemed the processes relating to the no-case submission properly filed and served.

Ekere thereafter adopted the no-case submission and urged the court to uphold it and discharge the defendant.

Aladedoyin, however, opposed the defendant lawyer’s prayer and asked the court to overrule the no-case submission and order the defendant to enter his defence.

He argued that the defence, in making their no case submission, had evaded Exhibit B, which he said was the defendant’s confession.

“If they had averted their mind to it, they won’t make the ‘no case submission’, so I urge my lord to invite the defendant to open his case,” he said.

Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the matter until Oct. 26 for ruling.

Our Reporter 

The Nasarawa State House of Assembly will consider the State Police Bill transmitted by the National Assembly when it resumes plenary on Monday, Sept. 28.

Dr Danladi Jatau, the Speaker of the House, disclosed this on Tuesday in Lafia while speaking with journalists.

Jatau said the bill was received from the Clerk of the National Assembly on Friday, Sept. 18.

“Yes, we are in receipt of the State Police Bill from the Clerk of the National Assembly. We received it last Friday,” he said.

He said the lawmakers would scrutinise the bill and take the necessary legislative action.

“We will go through it when we resume on Monday next week,” Jatau said.

The speaker assured that the Assembly would give the bill the necessary legislative attention.

“We will look at it and do the needful,” he said.(NAN).

Our Reporter 

The Osun House of Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution supporting the establishment of State Police to complement existing security agencies in combating insecurity in the state.

The resolution followed the transmission of the proposed constitutional amendment by the National Assembly to the State Houses of Assembly for consideration and approval.

The National Assembly had on June 24 passed the constitutional amendment Bill seeking to provide for the establishment of State Police.

The motion for the resolution and passage of the proposed State Police amendment was moved by the Majority Leader of the Assembly, Mr Babajide Kofoworola, and seconded by Mr Tajudeen Adeyemi, representing Ifelodun State Constituency.

The Speaker of the Assembly, Mr Adewale Egbedun, directed that the resolution and amendments approved by the Assembly be forwarded to the National Assembly for further consideration.

The Assembly later dissolved into the Committee of the Whole to consider the Osun State Park Management System Bill, 2026.

The Assembly considered corrections and amendments to the Bill, with the agreed changes incorporated into the proposed legislation.(NAN).