Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai will have to defend himself against allegations of unlawfully intercepting telephone conversations linked to National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu after a Federal High Court in Abuja rejected his request to be discharged.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ruled on Monday that the evidence presented by the prosecution was sufficient to require the former governor to respond to the allegations.
The decision followed the dismissal of a no-case submission filed by El-Rufai in the five-count amended charge brought against him by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The court fixed November 25, 2026, for the former governor to begin presenting his defence.
El-Rufai had asked the court to acquit him without requiring him to enter a defence, arguing that the prosecution had failed to establish a sufficient case against him.
His application came after the Federal Government concluded its presentation of evidence through two witnesses.
Defence counsel Paul Erokoro maintained that the evidence presented during the trial was inadequate to justify asking his client to answer the charges.
However, prosecution counsel Oluwole Aladedoye disagreed, urging the court to reject the application. He argued that the testimonies and documents submitted during the proceedings provided sufficient grounds for the case to continue.
In her ruling, Justice Abdulmalik agreed with the prosecution and ordered El-Rufai to proceed with his defence.
The case originated from allegations made by the former governor during an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme in February 2026.
During the interview, El-Rufai claimed that Ribadu’s telephone conversations had been intercepted. He said, “someone wiretapped” the NSA’s phone, allowing him to listen to a conversation in which Ribadu allegedly instructed security operatives to arrest him.
The claim later became the basis of the DSS case against the former governor.
With his application dismissed, El-Rufai is expected to appear before the court on November 25 to respond to the allegations.
The court’s decision does not amount to a determination of his guilt or innocence; the case will proceed as he presents his defence.
