A Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected a no-case submission by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai in his trial over the alleged unlawful interception of telephone communications involving National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ruled on Monday that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to require El-Rufai to enter his defence, if he wished, in the five-count amended charge filed by the Department of State Services.
The judge adjourned the case until November 25, 2026, for the former governor to open his defence.
El-Rufai had asked the court to discharge and acquit him, arguing through his counsel, Paul Erokoro, that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against him.
The application followed the closure of the prosecution’s case after two witnesses testified.
However, prosecution counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, urged the court to dismiss the application, arguing that the oral and documentary evidence presented was sufficient to require El-Rufai to respond to the allegations.
In her ruling, Justice Abdulmalik agreed with the prosecution and held that the case should proceed to the defence stage.
The charges arose from comments El-Rufai made during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme in February 2026, when he alleged that Ribadu’s telephone conversation had been intercepted.
During the interview, the former governor claimed that the interception enabled him to hear a conversation in which the NSA allegedly instructed security operatives to arrest him.
The allegation subsequently formed the basis of the DSS prosecution.
El-Rufai is expected to present his defence when the case resumes on November 25.
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