Alleged Wiretapping: Court Reserves Ruling on El-Rufai’s No-Case Submission

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has adjourned until October 26, 2026, to rule on a no-case submission filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in an alleged wiretapping case brought against him by the Department of State Services (DSS).

The DSS filed an amended five-count charge against El-Rufai following a February 13, 2026, interview on Arise TV, during which the former governor allegedly stated that associates had listened to the telephone conversations of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

The secret police accused El-Rufai of violating provisions of the Cybercrimes Act and Nigerian communications laws.

At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, counsel to El-Rufai, Paul Erokoro, SAN, informed the court that the defence filed a no-case submission on August 26, 2026.

A. K. Ekere, who appeared on behalf of Erokoro, urged the court to dismiss the charges against the former governor and impose penalties on the DSS.

Ekere argued that the prosecution had failed to present sufficient prima facie evidence to warrant El-Rufai being called upon to enter a defence.

However, prosecuting counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN, told the court that the prosecution had filed its response to the no-case submission on September 6, 2026.

He urged the court to dismiss the defence application and order El-Rufai to commence his defence.

Aladedoye further argued that evidence of an alleged confession by the former governor had been tendered before the court, maintaining that it established a case requiring him to defend himself.

After hearing arguments from both parties, the presiding judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, adjourned the matter until October 26, 2026, for ruling on the no-case submission.