Court Orders El-Rufai to Open Defence in Alleged NSA Phone Interception Trial

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai to enter his defence, if he wishes, in his ongoing trial over the alleged unlawful interception of the telephone communications of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik gave the order on Monday while ruling on a no-case submission filed by El-Rufai. The judge dismissed the submission, holding that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to warrant calling on the defendant to respond to the allegations.

A no-case submission is an application by a defendant asking the court to end a trial without requiring a defence, on the grounds that the prosecution has not presented sufficient evidence to justify one.

With the application dismissed, El-Rufai has been given the opportunity to present his defence if he chooses to do so. The ruling does not amount to a finding of guilt, and the allegations remain subject to determination by the court.

The case centres on allegations that the former governor unlawfully intercepted Ribadu’s telephone communications. The supplied report does not provide further details of the evidence considered by the court or the specific arguments advanced in the no-case submission.

Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the case until November 25 for the defence stage of the proceedings.

The next sitting is expected to determine how the trial proceeds following the dismissal of the no-case submission. El-Rufai retains the right to defend himself against the allegations as the case continues.