BY AHMED AKANBI
The Federal High Court in Abuja will on October 26 rule on a no-case submission filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in the wiretapping charge against him.
Justice Joyce Abdullmalik fixed the date on Tuesday, after hearing arguments from both the defence and the Department of State Services, DSS.
El-Rufai is being prosecuted on an amended five-count charge bordering on alleged wiretapping and violation of cybercrime laws.
The charge stems from comments he made during an Arise TV interview on February 13, 2026, where he alleged that some of his associates listened to telephone communications of the National Security Adviser, NSA, Nuhu Ribadu.
The DSS subsequently accused him of violating provisions of the Cybercrimes Act and Nigerian Communications laws.
At resumed proceedings on Tuesday, defence counsel, Paul Erokoro, SAN, represented by A.K. Ekere, said a no-case submission was filed on August 26.
He urged the court to discharge and acquit the former governor on grounds that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case.
The defence also asked the court to impose appropriate penalties against the DSS over the prosecution.
But prosecuting counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN, opposed the application and urged the court to dismiss it.
Aladedoye said the prosecution filed its response on September 6 and argued that evidence before the court, including an alleged confession, requires El-Rufai to enter a defence.
After listening to both sides, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned till October 26 for ruling on whether El-Rufai has a case to answer.