Alleged wiretapping: El-Rufai awaits Oct 26 no-case ruling

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday fixed October 26, 2026, to rule on the no-case submission filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in his ongoing trial over alleged unlawful interception of a telephone communication.

The ruling date was fixed after counsel for the prosecution and defence adopted their respective positions on the no-case submission.

At the resumed hearing, prosecuting counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye (SAN), told the court that the business of the day was for the defence to adopt El-Rufai’s no-case submission.

Counsel for El-Rufai, Akinyemi Aremu, informed the court that the defence team was led by Paul Erokoro (SAN), who was still on his way to court and had requested that the matter be stood down.

The trial judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, however, declined the request, saying, “I do not do stand downs.”

Aremu subsequently sought the court’s permission for his co-counsel, Ekere, to take over the proceedings.

Ekere then moved an application seeking an extension of time to deem the defendant’s no-case submission properly filed and served.

The judge granted the application and deemed the processes relating to the no-case submission properly filed and served.

Ekere thereafter adopted the no-case submission and urged the court to uphold it and discharge El-Rufai.

He argued that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case requiring the former governor to enter a defence.

Responding, Aladedoye urged the court to dismiss the no-case submission and order El-Rufai to open his defence.

He argued that the defence had failed to address Exhibit B, which he described as the defendant’s confession.

“If they had averred it, they won’t make the no-case submission, so I urge my lord to invite the defendant to open his case,” he said.

Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the matter until October 26 for ruling on the no-case submission.

The PUNCH reports that the case stems from comments made by El-Rufai during an Arise Television interview on February 13, 2026.

The former governor, during the interview, alleged that someone had intercepted the telephone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and passed the conversation to him.

He said the intercepted conversation indicated that Ribadu had directed security operatives to arrest him at the airport, on arrival from Cairo, Egypt.

Following the television interview, the DSS filed a three-count charge against El-Rufai at the Federal High Court in Abuja in February.

The prosecution alleged that he admitted that he and others unlawfully intercepted Ribadu’s telephone communications, knew someone involved in the interception and failed to report the person to security agencies.

It also alleged that technical equipment or systems had been used to unlawfully intercept the NSA’s communications.

The charges were brought under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.

El-Rufai was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and later by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and has remained in custody since then.