By Divine Sam

The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a no-case submission filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in a case involving the alleged unlawful interception of telephone communications belonging to National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

In a ruling delivered on Monday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik held that the Department of State Services (DSS) had presented sufficient evidence to require El-Rufai to enter his defence.

The judge subsequently directed the former governor, who is the sole defendant in the case, to open his defence against the allegations.

El-Rufai had, through his lawyer, Akinyemi Aremu, urged the court to discharge him, arguing that the prosecution had failed to establish a case against him after the DSS concluded its presentation of evidence with two witnesses.

However, the prosecution, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Oluwole Aladedoye, opposed the application, maintaining that the evidence before the court warranted a response from the defendant.

Aladedoye argued that the defence had failed to address Exhibit B, which reportedly contained an alleged admission by El-Rufai that he intercepted Ribadu’s telephone communications.

The court’s decision means El-Rufai will now be required to present his defence as the trial over the alleged phone-tapping continues.

It is important to note that the allegations remain before the court, and the ruling on the no-case submission does not amount to a finding of guilt against the former governor.