Court Orders El-Rufai to Open Defence in Alleged Wiretapping Case

A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a no-case submission filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over allegations of unlawfully intercepting telephone conversations linked to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, in her ruling on Monday, held that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to require El-Rufai to enter his defence in the five-count amended charge brought against him by the Department of State Services (DSS).

The judge subsequently directed the former governor to open his defence and adjourned the case until November 25, 2026.

El-Rufai had filed the no-case submission after the Federal Government closed its case, following the testimony of two prosecution witnesses.

His counsel, Paul Erokoro, had urged the court to discharge and acquit his client, arguing that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against him.

Erokoro maintained that the evidence presented before the court was insufficient to warrant compelling the former governor to defend himself against the allegations.

However, prosecution counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, opposed the application, insisting that the oral and documentary evidence presented by the prosecution established a case requiring the defendant to respond.

In dismissing the application, Justice Abdulmalik ruled that the evidence before the court justified proceeding to the defence stage of the trial.

The decision does not amount to a determination of El-Rufai’s guilt but requires him to respond to the allegations as the proceedings continue.

The case stems from allegations that El-Rufai unlawfully intercepted telephone conversations involving Ribadu.

The controversy followed an interview the former governor granted Arise Television’s Prime Time programme in February 2026, during which he claimed that the NSA’s telephone conversation had been intercepted.

During the interview, El-Rufai reportedly said that “someone wiretapped” Ribadu’s phone, enabling him to listen to a conversation in which the NSA allegedly instructed security operatives to arrest him.

The claim subsequently formed part of the basis for the DSS prosecution.

El-Rufai is expected to begin presenting his defence when the case resumes on November 25, 2026.