Abuja, 25 October 2026 — The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed Monday, 26 October 2026, for its ruling on a no-case submission filed by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai in the criminal trial brought against him by the Department of State Services (DSS) over the alleged unlawful interception of telephone communications involving the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik reserved the ruling after hearing arguments from both the defence and the prosecution on Tuesday, 22 September 2026. The DSS is prosecuting El-Rufai on an amended five-count charge relating to alleged unlawful interception of communications and breach of national security under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act 2024 and the Nigerian Communications Act 2003. He has pleaded not guilty and remains on ₦100 million bail.
The charges stem from remarks El-Rufai made during an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on 13 February 2026. In the interview, he stated that someone had wiretapped Ribadu’s telephone lines and that he had listened to conversations, including an alleged directive for security operatives to arrest him upon his return from Cairo, Egypt, the previous day. The court viewed the recording of the interview during proceedings. Prosecution witnesses included a DSS operative and human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju, who testified about the comments made on air. After the prosecution closed its case, El-Rufai’s legal team filed the no-case submission.
At the September hearing, counsel for El-Rufai, Akinyemi Aremu (holding brief for Paul Erokoro, SAN), adopted the no-case submission and urged the court to discharge the former governor. The defence argued that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case requiring him to enter a defence. In response, DSS counsel Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN, urged the court to dismiss the application and order El-Rufai to open his defence. He submitted that the defence had not adequately addressed Exhibit B, which the prosecution described as containing an alleged admission by El-Rufai concerning the interception of Ribadu’s communications.
A no-case submission allows the defence, at the close of the prosecution’s evidence, to argue that the state has not established a case to answer. Justice Abdulmalik’s ruling on 26 October will determine whether El-Rufai must proceed to present a defence or whether the charges will be terminated at this stage.
The case has drawn wider attention amid related proceedings. Separately, an FCT High Court recently dismissed a ₦120 million fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by El-Rufai against the DSS, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Attorney-General of the Federation in connection with the allegations and an attempted arrest.
El-Rufai, who served as Kaduna State Governor from 2015 to 2023, has denied wrongdoing. The DSS has maintained that the alleged interception compromised national security. The October 26 ruling is expected to clarify the next steps in the trial.
By John James
- Abuja Court to Rule on 26 October on El-Rufai’s No-Case Submission in Alleged Wiretapping Trial
- Nigerian Snapchat Predator from Bedfordshire Jailed for Raping Teenage Girls
- Trial of Two Men Accused of Impersonating EFCC Chairman’s Aide Continues in Abuja
- 24 State Assemblies Approve State Police Constitutional Amendment
- Peter Obi Attends Funeral of Supporter Shot During Political Activity
