The legal battle between the Department of State Services and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has taken a significant turn, with the prosecution closing its case and the defence signalling its intention to challenge the validity of the evidence presented. The proceedings unfolded on Tuesday before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where the DSS formally announced that it would not be calling any additional witnesses to testify in the matter.
Counsel representing the DSS, Oluwole Aladedoye, informed the court that the security agency was satisfied that the evidence and testimony already tendered were sufficient to establish the charges against the former governor. The prosecution had earlier filed an amended five-count charge against El-Rufai, accusing him of the unlawful interception of communications and violating the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act of 2024, which carries implications for national security. The allegations are rooted in comments made by El-Rufai during a live interview on Arise Television in February, during which he claimed to have intercepted a telephone conversation involving the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Following the closure of the prosecution’s case, the defence team, led by Paul Erokoro, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, announced that they would be filing a no-case submission. This legal manoeuvre argues that the evidence presented by the prosecution is insufficient on its face to require the defendant to open a defence, effectively asking the court to dismiss the charges without El-Rufai having to present his side of the story. Erokoro requested a period of two weeks to prepare and file the necessary application, a request which was mirrored by the prosecution who asked for the same duration to respond to the submission.
In a separate development during the session, the defence made an oral application to the court requesting a review of the bail conditions previously imposed on El-Rufai. The legal team argued that the conditions were excessively stringent and nearly impossible to meet. Specifically, they cited the requirement for sureties to be Level 17 civil servants possessing landed properties in the highbrow Maitama or Asokoro districts of Abuja, as well as the prerequisite of obtaining verification and attestation letters from the Kaduna State Traditional Council. The defence maintained that these conditions placed an unreasonable burden on the former governor.
However, the prosecution opposed this application, urging the court to maintain the existing conditions, arguing that qualified public servants who met the stipulated requirements were available. In her ruling on the matter, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik declined to vary the bail conditions, holding that there were indeed civil servants with properties in the specified districts who could serve as sureties, thereby dismissing the defence’s request. The court subsequently adjourned the matter until September 22, 2026, for the filing of the no-case submission and further proceedings.
Abuja Network News
