By Newsheadline247
A Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected Nasir El-Rufai’s no-case submission and ordered him to enter his defence in the alleged phone-tapping trial involving NSA Nuhu Ribadu
El-Rufai Suffers Court Setback as Judge Orders Defence in Ribadu Phone-Tapping Trial
A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a no-case submission filed by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and ordered him to enter his defence, if he so desires, in his ongoing trial over the alleged unlawful interception of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu’s telephone communications.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik gave the ruling on Monday, holding that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to warrant calling on the former governor to respond to the allegations against him.
The decision means the trial will proceed to the defence stage rather than end at the close of the prosecution’s case. It does not amount to a finding of guilt against El-Rufai, whose culpability remains for the court to determine.
El-Rufai had filed the no-case submission after the Department of State Services (DSS), which is prosecuting the case, closed its presentation of evidence after calling two witnesses.
Through his lawyers, the former governor argued that the prosecution had failed to establish a sufficient case to require him to enter a defence. He had asked the court to discharge him without requiring him to respond to the allegations.
The prosecution opposed the application, maintaining that the evidence presented before the court was sufficient to establish a prima facie case. Its counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN, argued that the defence had not adequately addressed Exhibit B, which the prosecution said contained El-Rufai’s alleged admission concerning the interception of Ribadu’s telephone communications.
The case arose from comments El-Rufai reportedly made during an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme in February 2026. The prosecution alleges that he acknowledged knowing an individual who unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s telephone communications and failed to report the alleged offence to the relevant authorities.
El-Rufai has disputed the basis of the charge, arguing that his television remarks should not be treated as a confession to a criminal offence. He has also challenged the competence of the charge and the legal basis for the prosecution.
The former governor is facing an amended five-count charge brought by the Federal Government through the DSS. The allegations include unlawful interception of telephone communications and related offences.
