Alleged Wiretapping: Court Fixes October 26 To Rule On El-Rufai’s No-Case Submission

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed October 26, 2026, to rule on a no-case submission filed by former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in the alleged phone-tapping case brought against him by the Department of State Services (DSS).

The judge fixed the date on Tuesday after hearing arguments from both El-Rufai’s defence team and the DSS on whether the former governor should be called upon to open his defence.

El-Rufai’s counsel, Akinyemi Aremu, who held brief for Paul Erokoro, SAN, adopted the no-case submission and urged the court to discharge his client, arguing that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against him.

However, DSS counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN, urged the court to dismiss the application and order El-Rufai to enter his defence.

Aladedoye argued that the defence had failed to adequately address Exhibit B, which the prosecution said contained an alleged admission by El-Rufai concerning the interception of telephone communications involving the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

The DSS had earlier called two witnesses in the case, including an operative of the service and human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju.

Adeyanju, who testified as a prosecution witness, gave evidence concerning comments allegedly made by El-Rufai during a February 13, 2026, television interview about the interception of Ribadu’s telephone communications. The court also viewed the recording of the interview during the proceedings.

The DSS subsequently closed its case, after which El-Rufai’s legal team filed the no-case submission.

Following Tuesday’s arguments, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter until October 26, 2026, for ruling on the application.