A federal high court in Abuja has adjourned the arraignment of Nasir el-Rufai, former Kaduna state governor, to April 23 following the failure of the Department of State Services (DSS) to produce him in court.

The DSS had filed a three-count charge against el-Rufai over alleged unlawful interception of a telephone conversation, following comments he made during a television interview.

The court had thereafter fixed February 25 for the ex-minister’s arraignment.

However, at the court’s session on Wednesday, el-Rufai was absent, and the DSS said it is not holding the former governor.

Oluwole Aladedoyin, counsel to the prosecution, said the El-Rufa’i is in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and has no idea when they will release him.

“Unfortunately, the defendant is with the ICPC, and I do not know how far the investigation with the ICPC has gone,” Aladedoyin said.