The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a no-case submission filed by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai in his ongoing trial over the alleged unlawful interception of telephone communications involving National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, who presided over the case, ruled on Monday that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to warrant calling on el-Rufai to enter his defence.
The ruling followed the conclusion of the prosecution’s case, during which the Department of State Services (DSS) presented two witnesses.
El-Rufai had filed the no-case submission, asking the court to dismiss the charges on the grounds that the prosecution had failed to establish sufficient evidence requiring him to defend himself.
However, the prosecution opposed the application, arguing that the evidence presented before the court established a prima facie case against the former governor.
A key part of the prosecution’s case is an exhibit allegedly containing statements by el-Rufai concerning the interception of Ribadu’s telephone communications.
The case stems from comments made by el-Rufai during a television interview in February 2026, when he spoke about an alleged interception of the NSA’s telephone conversations.
The DSS subsequently filed charges against the former governor over the alleged unlawful interception.
With the court’s dismissal of the no-case submission, el-Rufai is expected to enter his defence as the trial continues.
The ruling does not amount to a conviction, and the allegations against him remain to be determined by the court.
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