Court to rule on El-Rufai’s no-case submission on October 26

The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed October 26 to rule on a no-case submission filed by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai in his trial over the alleged unlawful interception of telephone communications involving National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik fixed the date on Tuesday, September 22, after lawyers representing El-Rufai and the prosecution presented their final arguments on the application.

El-Rufai is asking the court to dismiss the case without requiring him to enter a defence, arguing that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against him. The Department of State Services, which is prosecuting the former governor, has opposed the application and urged the court to order him to open his defence.

The DSS is prosecuting El-Rufai on an amended five-count charge relating to alleged unlawful interception of communications and breach of national security. El-Rufai pleaded not guilty to all five counts when the amended charges were read to him in April. Among the allegations, the prosecution accuses the former governor of intentionally intercepting Ribadu’s communications without authorisation.

The charge followed comments El-Rufai made during an Arise TV interview on February 13, 2026, concerning alleged access to telephone conversations involving the National Security Adviser. The prosecution also alleges that technical equipment or systems were used in a manner that compromised public safety and national security. The DSS closed its case in June after presenting witnesses and electronic evidence.

El-Rufai subsequently filed the no-case submission, contending that the evidence presented by the prosecution was insufficient to require him to defend the charges. The DSS disagrees, maintaining that it presented sufficient evidence for the court to call on the former governor to enter a defence.

Justice Abdulmalik will rule on the application on October 26. The ruling will determine whether the case against El-Rufai proceeds to the defence stage or whether the charges are dismissed at that point. El-Rufai remains accused of the offences and has not been convicted.