A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai to enter his defence in the ongoing trial over the alleged unlawful interception of telephone communications involving National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik gave the directive on Monday after dismissing El-Rufai’s no-case submission, ruling that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to require him to respond to the allegations.
The decision means the former governor must now present his defence if he wishes to challenge the evidence brought against him by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Why the court rejected his application
El-Rufai had asked the court to discharge and acquit him without requiring him to defend himself, arguing that the prosecution had failed to establish a sufficient case against him.
The application followed the DSS’s closure of its case after presenting two witnesses.
However, prosecution counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, argued that the evidence before the court justified requiring the former governor to respond to the charges.
He specifically drew the court’s attention to Exhibit B, which the prosecution said contained an alleged admission by El-Rufai concerning the interception of Ribadu’s telephone communications.
After considering the arguments, Justice Abdulmalik rejected the no-case submission and directed the defendant to proceed with his defence.
How the controversy began
The case followed comments El-Rufai made during an interview on Arise Television in February 2026, when he claimed that someone had intercepted Ribadu’s telephone communications.
The former governor said the intercepted conversation allegedly involved instructions for security operatives to arrest him.
His remarks subsequently attracted public attention and prompted legal action over the alleged interception of the National Security Adviser’s communications.
The DSS later brought charges against El-Rufai over the matter.
Trial adjourned until November
Following Monday’s ruling, the court adjourned the case until November 25, 2026, for the defence to open its case.
The latest decision does not amount to a conviction or establish that El-Rufai is guilty of the allegations. It means the court considers the prosecution’s evidence sufficient to require a response from the defendant.
The former governor will have the opportunity to challenge the allegations as the proceedings continue.
