El-Rufai to Defend Himself in Ribadu Phone-Tapping Case

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai to enter his defence in the case concerning the alleged unlawful interception of telephone communications involving National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik gave the directive on Monday, October 26, 2026, after dismissing El-Rufai’s no-case submission, in which he asked the court to discharge and acquit him without requiring him to defend himself.

The judge held that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to warrant calling on the former governor to respond to the allegations. The ruling moves the case to the defence stage but does not amount to a finding of guilt.

El-Rufai had filed the no-case submission after the Department of State Services (DSS), which is prosecuting the matter, closed its case following the testimony of two witnesses. Through his legal team, he argued that the evidence presented was insufficient to establish a case requiring him to enter a defence.

The prosecution opposed the application, urging the court to allow the trial to proceed. Its counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, argued that the oral and documentary evidence before the court was sufficient to require the defendant to answer the allegations.

A key issue raised by the prosecution concerned Exhibit B, which it said contained an alleged admission by El-Rufai relating to the interception of Ribadu’s telephone communications. The defence’s no-case submission sought to establish that the prosecution had not made out a sufficient case against him.

The case followed comments made by El-Rufai during a television interview in February 2026. During the interview, the former governor spoke about an alleged interception of a telephone conversation involving Ribadu, claiming that the conversation suggested the National Security Adviser had instructed security operatives to arrest him after his return to Nigeria.

The allegations subsequently formed the basis of charges brought against El-Rufai by the DSS under relevant Nigerian laws governing cybercrime and telecommunications. The former governor has denied criminal liability by pleading not guilty to the charges.

With the court rejecting his no-case submission, the proceedings will continue, giving El-Rufai an opportunity to present his account and challenge the prosecution’s evidence. The court adjourned the matter until November 25, 2026, for the next stage of the trial.

The outcome of the case will depend on the evidence and arguments presented before the court. The latest ruling establishes only that the prosecution has presented enough evidence for the case to proceed, not that the allegations against El-Rufai have been proved.

About The Author