El-Rufai to File No-Case Submission in Wiretapping Trial

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai is preparing to file a no-case submission in response to the Department of State Services (DSS) closing its case against him in a wiretapping trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The DSS had amended five counts of charges against El-Rufai, alleging unlawful interception of communications that breached national security.

The charges stem from an incident during a live interview on Arise Television in February, where it was claimed that a telephone conversation involving Ribadu revealed plans for security operations to arrest offenders, contrary to Section 12(1) of the Cybercrime Prohibition and Prevention Act 2015. During the proceedings, DSS counsel Oluwol Aladedoy informed the court that they would not call further witnesses, prompting the formal closure of their case.

El-Rufai's lawyer, Paul Erokoro, SAN, stated that the prosecution failed to establish sufficient evidence to warrant a defense. The court has adjourned the matter until September 22 for the filing of the no-case submission.