Court Sets October 26 For El-Rufai Ruling

The High Court in Abuja has fixed October 26 to rule on Nasir El-Rufai’s no-case submission.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik fixed the date after hearing arguments from both sides on Tuesday.

El-Rufai is seeking to stop his trial over allegations that he unlawfully intercepted NSA Nuhu Ribadu’s phone calls.

El-Rufai’s lawyers, led by Paul Erokoro, SAN, urged the court to discharge and acquit him.

They argued that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against the former Kaduna governor.

They also described the five-count amended charge as incompetent. The defence therefore asked the court to uphold its no-case submission and end the proceedings.

However, prosecution counsel Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN, urged the court to reject the application.

He argued that the oral and documentary evidence presented was enough to link El-Rufai to the allegations.

After hearing both sides, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned to rule on the application. The Nigerian Government had earlier closed its case after calling two witnesses. El-Rufai’s latest application follows an earlier attempt to vary his bail conditions.

On July 23, the court dismissed that application for lacking merit.

The former governor had described the bail conditions as stringent and difficult to meet.

His lawyers asked the court to change a requirement that he produce Level 17 civil servants with properties in Maitama or Asokoro.

They also challenged the requirement for verification and attestation letters from the Kaduna State Traditional Council.

The prosecution opposed the request.

It argued that qualified public officers were available to meet the conditions.

Justice Abdulmalik later upheld the original bail terms.

She said the conditions were designed to ensure El-Rufai attends his trial.

El-Rufai served as Kaduna governor from 2015 to 2023.

He also served as Minister of the National Capital Territory (FCT) under former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The case followed comments he made during an Arise Television interview on February 13.

The prosecution alleged that El-Rufai admitted knowing and associating with a person who illegally intercepted Ribadu’s phone communications.

It also accused him of failing to report the alleged offence to security agencies.

The government said the alleged conduct breached national security and public safety under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.

During the interview, El-Rufai discussed an alleged attempt by DSS operatives to “abduct” him at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

He said the incident occurred on February 12, after he returned from Cairo.

El-Rufai also alleged that the DSS action was linked to the ICPC and Ribadu.

He said the information came from someone who had listened to the NSA’s telephone conversations.

Following the allegations, El-Rufai filed a motion seeking to quash the charge.

He gave 17 reasons to dismiss the case.

The former governor argued that the DSS had wrongly treated his television comments as an admission that he had intercepted Ribadu’s calls.

He said the remarks did not amount to a confession under Nigerian law.

El-Rufai argued that a valid confession must be made voluntarily under caution and in line with the Judges’ Rules.

He said he made his comments during a public television discussion without any caution or warning.

“A casual remark on a television programme cannot be elevated to a judicial confession,” he argued.

However, the court previously declined to quash the charge and ordered an accelerated hearing.