El-Rufai Strikes Back As DSS Closes Wiretapping Case, Moves For No-Case Submission

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, is preparing to file a no-case submission in his ongoing trial over allegations of unlawful wiretapping after the Department of State Services (DSS) concluded its case before the Federal High Court in Abuja.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The DSS is prosecuting El-Rufai on an amended five-count charge relating to the alleged unlawful interception of communications and actions deemed detrimental to national security.

According to the agency, the former governor claimed during a live interview on Arise Television in February that he had intercepted a telephone conversation involving the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

The prosecution alleged that El-Rufai disclosed details of the conversation, including an alleged plan by security operatives to arrest him.

At Tuesday’s hearing, counsel to the DSS, Oluwole Aladedoye, informed the court that the prosecution had concluded its case and would not be calling any additional witnesses.

Following the announcement, El-Rufai’s lead counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN), told the court that the defence would file a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case requiring his client to enter a defence.

The defence requested two weeks to file the application, while the prosecution sought a similar period to respond.

Erokoro also urged the court to review El-Rufai’s bail conditions, describing them as excessively stringent and difficult to satisfy.

He argued that the requirement for sureties to be Level 17 civil servants who own property in Abuja’s Maitama or Asokoro districts placed an undue burden on the defendant.

The defence further challenged the condition requiring verification and attestation letters from the Kaduna State Traditional Council.

However, the prosecution opposed the request and asked the court to maintain the existing bail terms.

In her ruling, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik declined the application to vary the bail conditions, holding that qualified civil servants with properties in the specified areas could still serve as sureties.

The judge subsequently adjourned the case until September 22 for the filing and hearing of the no-case submission, as well as further proceedings in the matter.