The Department of State Services (DSS) has urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a no-case submission filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in an alleged wiretapping case.
The DSS is prosecuting El-Rufai over allegations that he was involved in the interception of telephone communications involving the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
At Tuesday’s proceedings, DSS counsel, Oluwole Aladedoyin, SAN, urged Justice Joyce Abdulmalik to compel the former governor to enter his defence, arguing that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to warrant a defence.
Aladedoyin said the defence, in its no-case submission, failed to address Exhibit B, which he described as an alleged confession by El-Rufai.
“If they had averred it, they wouldn’t make the no-case submission, so I urge my Lord to invite the defendant to open his case,” he said.
The prosecution and defence subsequently adopted their respective arguments on the no-case submission.
Counsel to El-Rufai, Akinyemi Aremu, urged the court to uphold the application and discharge the former governor, arguing that the prosecution had failed to establish a case against him.
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Earlier, Aremu informed the court that the defence team would be led by Paul Erokoro, SAN, and asked the court to stand down the matter to allow the senior lawyer, who was on his way to court, to arrive.
Justice Abdulmalik, however, declined the request, saying, “I do not do stand downs,” and directed Aremu to proceed with the arguments.
Following the adoption of arguments by both parties, the judge reserved ruling on the no-case submission.
Justice Abdulmalik fixed October 26, 2026, for a ruling on whether El-Rufai should be called upon to enter his defence or be discharged from the charges.
