Alleged Phone-Tapping Trial: Court Orders El-Rufai To Defend Himself

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to defend himself in his trial over the alleged interception of National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu’s telephone communications.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik gave the order after dismissing El-Rufai’s no-case submission, ruling that the Department of State Services (DSS) had presented sufficient evidence to warrant a defence.

The judge held that the former governor, the sole defendant in the case, must enter his defence if he wishes to do so.

The DSS had called two witnesses before closing its case, prompting El-Rufai’s lawyer, Akinyemi Aremu, to argue that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against his client.

However, DSS counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN, urged the court to reject the submission, citing Exhibit B, which the prosecution said contained El-Rufai’s alleged admission concerning the interception of Ribadu’s phone.

The court’s ruling means the trial will proceed to the defence stage.