The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday dismissed the no case submission filed by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai in his trial over the alleged unlawful interception of telephone communications involving National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik held that the Department of State Services had presented sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case against El-Rufai. She therefore ordered him to enter his defence and adjourned the matter to 25 November 2026 for the defence to open its case.
El-Rufai was present in court when the ruling was delivered. The prosecution is pursuing a five-count amended charge arising from comments he made during an interview on Arise Television on 13 February 2026. In that interview, he referred to the interception of telephone conversations involving the National Security Adviser.
The Department of State Services closed its case after calling two witnesses, including a DSS operative and a lawyer. Evidence tendered during the prosecution’s case included a recording of the television interview. El-Rufai’s legal team had argued that the evidence was inadequate to require him to defend the charges and asked the court to discharge him. The court rejected that submission.
The ruling means the trial will continue, with El-Rufai required to respond to the allegations. This matter is separate from other cases involving the former governor before courts in Kaduna and elsewhere.
By John James
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