Court Orders El-Rufai To Enter Defence In Wiretapping Trial

The 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 (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik gave the order on Monday, October 26, 2026, after dismissing a no-case submission filed by El-Rufai. The judge held that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to require the former governor to respond to the allegations.

The court subsequently adjourned the case until November 25, 2026, for the defence stage of the proceedings.

El-Rufai had filed the no-case submission after the Department of State Services (DSS), which is prosecuting him, concluded its case with the testimony of two witnesses.

Through his lawyer, El-Rufai argued that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against him and urged the court to discharge and acquit him without requiring him to present a defence.

However, prosecution counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, opposed the application, maintaining that the oral and documentary evidence presented before the court was sufficient to warrant a response from the defendant.

The prosecution also relied on a document identified as Exhibit B, which it said contained an alleged admission by El-Rufai concerning the interception of telephone communications linked to Ribadu.

The case originated from comments El-Rufai made during an interview on Arise Television in February 2026. During the programme, the former governor alleged that someone had intercepted Ribadu’s telephone conversations, enabling him to hear a discussion in which the NSA allegedly instructed security operatives to arrest him.

The remarks subsequently prompted the DSS to file a five-count amended charge against him over the alleged unlawful interception and related offences.

El-Rufai pleaded not guilty to the charges when he was arraigned in April.

The prosecution called two witnesses before closing its case, including a DSS operative and lawyer and human rights activist Deji Adeyanju, who testified about the televised interview.

The court’s decision does not amount to a finding of guilt. It means the judge considers the evidence sufficient for the trial to proceed to the defence stage.

El-Rufai will have the opportunity to challenge the prosecution’s evidence and present his response when the case resumes on November 25.