By Mardiyyah Abubakar
The Federal High Court, Abuja will on October 26, 2026, rule on former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s no-case submission in the alleged phone-tapping case filed by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik fixed the date after hearing arguments from El-Rufai’s defence team and the DSS.
El-Rufai’s counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN), urged the court to dismiss the case, arguing that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against his client.
However, DSS counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye (SAN), asked the court to reject the application and direct El-Rufai to open his defence.
Aladedoye argued that the defence had failed to adequately address Exhibit B, which the prosecution said contained an alleged admission by El-Rufai concerning the interception of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu’s telephone communications.
The DSS had earlier called two witnesses, including a DSS operative and human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju.
The witnesses gave evidence on statements allegedly made by El-Rufai during a television interview about the interception of telephone communications involving Ribadu.
The court also watched the televised interview in which El-Rufai was alleged to have said, “We listened to the conversations of the NSA.”
Adeyanju told the court that he did not hear El-Rufai expressly say that he hacked Ribadu’s phone, but said he heard him refer to listening to the NSA’s conversations.
El-Rufai is facing an amended five-count charge relating to the alleged interception of Ribadu’s telephone communications and an alleged breach of national security. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The DSS closed its case in June after presenting witnesses and electronic evidence, including the television interview.
El-Rufai remains on ₦100 million bail after the court rejected his application to vary the bail conditions.
The court is expected to rule on the no-case submission on October 26.
