The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed October 26, 2026, to rule on the no-case submission filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in the alleged wiretapping case brought against him by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik fixed the date on Tuesday after lawyers representing El-Rufai and the DSS presented their arguments on whether the former governor should be required to enter a defence.
El-Rufai’s counsel, Paul Erokoro, SAN, argued that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against his client and urged the court to uphold the no-case submission and discharge him.
However, DSS counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN, opposed the application and asked the court to order El-Rufai to enter his defence. He argued that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence, including an exhibit said to contain an alleged admission by the former governor concerning the interception of telephone communications involving National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The DSS is prosecuting El-Rufai on an amended five-count charge relating to the alleged interception of Ribadu’s telephone communications and an alleged breach of national security. El-Rufai has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecution had earlier called two witnesses, including a DSS operative and human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju, and presented electronic evidence, including a recording of a television interview in which El-Rufai allegedly discussed listening to the NSA’s conversations.
The ruling on October 26 will determine whether El-Rufai has a case to answer and must proceed to present his defence, or whether the case will end at the close of the prosecution’s evidence.