Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai shared an affectionate moment with his wife on Monday as he arrived at the Federal High Court in Abuja for proceedings in his ongoing trial over the alleged unlawful interception of telephone communications involving National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
The former governor was seen kissing his wife before entering the courtroom, where proceedings took a significant turn after the court dismissed his no-case submission and directed him to present his defence.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ruled that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to require El-Rufai to enter his defence, if he wished to contest the allegations against him.
The court subsequently adjourned the case until November 25, 2026, for the former governor to begin presenting his defence.
Court Rejects No-Case Submission
El-Rufai had filed a no-case submission after the prosecution concluded its presentation of evidence, arguing that the case against him lacked sufficient evidence to warrant requiring him to defend himself.
The prosecution opposed the application, maintaining that the evidence presented before the court established a case requiring the defendant to respond to the allegations.
The charges arose from comments El-Rufai reportedly made during a television interview in February 2026, when he claimed that he had listened to telephone communications involving Ribadu.
The Department of State Services subsequently brought charges against the former governor over the alleged interception of the National Security Adviser’s telephone communications.
The prosecution called two witnesses before closing its case, including a DSS operative and lawyer Deji Adeyanju, who testified about the television interview.
El-Rufai has denied that the prosecution established sufficient grounds to require him to enter a defence.
The court’s decision to dismiss the no-case submission does not amount to a finding of guilt. Rather, it allows the proceedings to continue to the defence stage, where El-Rufai will have the opportunity to respond to the evidence presented against him.
The next hearing is scheduled for November 25, when the former governor is expected to begin presenting his defence.
The case remains ongoing, and the allegations against him have yet to be determined by the court.