Court Orders El-Rufai to Defend Himself in Alleged Wiretapping Case

A 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 conversations 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 the former governor.

The judge held that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to require El-Rufai to respond to the five-count amended charge brought against him by the Department of State Services (DSS).

The court subsequently adjourned the case until November 25, 2026, for the former governor to open his defence.

El-Rufai had filed the no-case submission after the prosecution closed its case, having called two witnesses. Through his counsel, he urged the court to discharge and acquit him, arguing that the evidence presented was insufficient to establish a case against him.

However, the prosecution counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, opposed the application, insisting that the oral and documentary evidence before the court warranted a response from the defendant.

The charges stem from comments El-Rufai made during an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme in February 2026.

During the interview, the former governor alleged that someone had intercepted Ribadu’s telephone conversations, claiming that he listened to a conversation in which the NSA allegedly instructed security operatives to arrest him.

The comments subsequently formed the basis of the DSS prosecution over the alleged unlawful interception of telephone communications.

El-Rufai has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The dismissal of his no-case submission does not amount to a finding of guilt but means the trial will proceed to the defence stage, where he will have the opportunity to respond to the prosecution’s evidence.

The case is scheduled to resume on November 25, 2026.