The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has fixed October 26, 2026, to rule on a no-case submission filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in the ongoing trial over alleged unlawful interception of telephone communications.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik fixed the date after hearing arguments from both the defence and prosecution on whether El-Rufai has a case to answer.
El-Rufai’s counsel, Paul Erokoro, SAN, urged the court to uphold the no-case submission, arguing that the evidence presented by the Department of State Services (DSS) was insufficient to establish a prima facie case against the former governor.
The defence maintained that the prosecution had failed to present evidence strong enough to require El-Rufai to open a defence.
However, counsel to the DSS, Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN, opposed the application and urged the court to dismiss it.
The prosecution argued that sufficient evidence had been presented to warrant the former governor being called upon to defend himself.
A key issue in the proceedings was Exhibit B, which the prosecution said contained an alleged admission by El-Rufai concerning the interception of a telephone conversation involving National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The DSS instituted the case after El-Rufai, during a television interview, said that he and another person had listened to a telephone conversation involving Ribadu. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Earlier in the proceedings, the prosecution closed its case after informing the court that it would not call additional witnesses. The development prompted the defence to file the no-case submission.
The court’s October 26 ruling will determine whether the prosecution’s evidence is sufficient for the former governor to be required to enter a defence or whether the case will be dismissed at that stage.
El-Rufai remains presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by a competent court