Nasir El-Rufai ordered to enter defence in phone-tapping trial

A Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected a no-case submission filed by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai. The ruling comes amid his ongoing trial concerning the alleged unlawful interception of telephone communications belonging to National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ruled that the Department of State Services (DSS) provided sufficient evidence to warrant the defendant entering a defence. The judge's decision follows the DSS closing its case after calling two witnesses.

El-Rufai’s counsel, Akinyemi Aremu, had argued that the prosecution failed to establish a case requiring the former governor to defend himself. However, DSS lawyer Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN, countered that the defence failed to address Exhibit B, which the prosecution claims contains an admission by El-Rufai regarding the tapping of Ribadu’s phone.