By Stephen Simon
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai to enter his defence in the trial over the alleged unlawful interception of telephone conversations involving National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik gave the order after dismissing El-Rufai’s no-case submission, ruling that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to require him to respond to the allegations.
The case involves a five-count amended charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) over the alleged interception of telephone communications linked to Ribadu.
El-Rufai had urged the court to discharge and acquit him, arguing through his lawyer, Paul Erokoro, that the prosecution’s evidence was insufficient to establish a case against him.
The case involves a five-count amended charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) over the alleged interception of telephone communications linked to Ribadu.
El-Rufai had urged the court to discharge and acquit him, arguing through his lawyer, Paul Erokoro, that the prosecution’s evidence was insufficient to establish a case against him.
However, prosecution counsel Oluwole Aladedoye opposed the application, maintaining that the oral and documentary evidence presented before the court warranted a defence from the former governor.
The court’s decision means the trial will proceed to the defence stage. It does not amount to a finding of guilt against El-Rufai.
The allegations followed comments the former governor made during a television interview in February 2026, in which he claimed that Ribadu’s telephone conversation had been intercepted.
Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the case until November 25, 2026, for El-Rufai to open his defence.
