Nigerian court orders El-Rufai to present his defence over phone interceptions
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Punch
Nigerian justice has ordered Nasir El-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna, to present his defence in a trial over the alleged interception of phone conversations. The Federal Court in Abuja set the next hearing for 25 November 2026, after rejecting his request for acquittal, Punch reports.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday rejected Nasir El-Rufai’s no-case submission in the case of alleged phone interceptions targeting Nuhu Ribadu, Nigeria’s national security adviser. Judge Joyce Abdulmalik ruled that the evidence presented by the prosecution justified requiring the former governor to present his defence, Punch reports.
The case involves five amended charges filed by the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria’s domestic intelligence agency. The trial was adjourned until 25 November 2026, when El-Rufai will have to begin responding to the charges.
The former governor had sought to be acquitted after the prosecution closed its case, having relied on the testimony of two people. His lawyer, Paul Erokoro, argued that the evidence was insufficient to require a defence. Prosecutor Oluwole Aladedoye, by contrast, asked the judge to let the proceedings continue.
The charges follow an interview given in February 2026 to the Prime Time programme on Arise Television. El-Rufai said the phone of Ribadu had been intercepted and that he had consequently heard a conversation in which the adviser had allegedly asked security forces to arrest him.
