El-Rufai’s No-Case Submission: Court Sets October 26 for Ruling in Alleged Illegal Phone Interception Case

The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed October 26, 2026, to deliver its ruling on a no-case submission filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in a case involving allegations of unlawful interception and monitoring of the telephone communications of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.

El-Rufai, through his legal team led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Paul Erokoro, urged the court to discharge and acquit him of the five-count charges brought against him by the Federal Government through the Department of State Services (DSS).

The former governor argued that the prosecution had failed to present sufficient evidence establishing a prima facie case against him or warranting an order for him to enter a defence.

His lawyers therefore urged Justice Joyce Abdulmalik to uphold the no-case submission and terminate the proceedings against him.

However, counsel to the Federal Government, Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN, urged the court to dismiss the application and direct El-Rufai to proceed with his defence.

Aladedoye argued that both oral and documentary evidence presented by the prosecution were sufficient to link the defendant to the allegations contained in the charges.

After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter until October 26 for ruling on the no-case submission.

Prosecution Closes Its Case

The Federal Government had earlier closed its case after calling two witnesses before the court.

The development means the court is now expected to determine whether the evidence presented by the prosecution is sufficient to require the former governor to open his defence.

Court Earlier Rejected Bail Conditions Variation

The case follows an earlier ruling delivered on July 23, when the court dismissed an application by El-Rufai seeking to vary some of the conditions attached to his bail.

Through his counsel, El-Rufai had described some of the bail conditions as stringent and difficult to fulfil.

Among the conditions he sought to vary was the requirement that he produce serving civil servants of Grade Level 17 who own properties in Maitama or Asokoro, Abuja, as sureties. He also sought changes to requirements involving identification and verification letters from the Kaduna State Council of Traditional Rulers.

The prosecution opposed the application, arguing that there were qualified public servants who met the conditions and that the defendant could obtain them without difficulty.

The prosecution therefore urged the court to dismiss the application.

In her ruling, Justice Abdulmalik agreed with the prosecution's position and held that there was no sufficient reason to alter the original bail conditions.

The judge explained that the conditions were imposed to ensure that the defendant would continue to attend court throughout the trial.

The court is now expected to rule on October 26 on whether El-Rufai has a case to answer based on the evidence presented by the prosecution.