Alleged Phone Interception: Court Dismisses El-Rufai’s No-Case Submission, Orders Him to Enter Defence
The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a no-case submission filed by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, directing him to enter his defence in the ongoing trial over the alleged unlawful interception of telephone communications involving the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik delivered the ruling after finding that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to require El-Rufai to respond to the allegations against him.
The court consequently rejected the former governor’s argument that the prosecution had failed to establish a case requiring him to enter his defence.
In her ruling, Justice Abdulmalik held that the evidence presented by the prosecution was sufficient, at this stage of the proceedings, to call on El-Rufai to open his defence if he chose to do so.
However, the dismissal of the no-case submission does not amount to a determination of guilt. Rather, it means the court found sufficient evidence to require the former governor to respond to the prosecution’s allegations.
El-Rufai is standing trial over allegations bordering on the unlawful interception of Ribadu’s telephone communications.
Following the ruling, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the case until November 25, 2026, for the former governor to open his defence.
