‘Phone tapping’: Court fixes date to rule on El-Rufai’s no-case submission

The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed October 26, 2026, to rule on the no-case submission filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in his ongoing trial over alleged unlawful interception of telephone communication.

The ruling date was fixed on Tuesday after counsel representing the prosecution and defence adopted their respective arguments on whether El-Rufai should be required to open his defence.

The proceedings centred on the defence’s argument that the prosecution had failed to establish sufficient evidence linking the former governor to the alleged offence.

Defence adopts no-case submission

At the resumed hearing, prosecuting counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN, told the court that the business of the day was for the defence to adopt El-Rufai’s no-case submission.

Counsel for El-Rufai, Akinyemi Aremu, informed the court that the defence team was led by Paul Erokoro, SAN, who was still on his way to court and had requested that the matter be stood down.

The trial judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, however, declined the request, stating that she did not do stand-downs.

Aremu subsequently sought the court’s permission for his co-counsel, Ekere, to take over the proceedings.

Ekere then moved an application seeking an extension of time to deem the defendant’s no-case submission properly filed and served. Justice Abdulmalik granted the application and deemed the processes relating to the submission properly filed and served.

Ekere thereafter adopted the no-case submission and urged the court to uphold it and discharge El-Rufai.

Defence says prosecution failed to establish case

In adopting the submission, Ekere argued that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against the former governor.

He maintained that the evidence presented by the prosecution was insufficient to require El-Rufai to enter a defence.

The defence consequently urged the court to uphold the no-case submission and discharge the former governor from the trial.

The prosecution disagreed with the defence’s position and urged the court to dismiss the no-case submission.

Prosecution asks El-Rufai to open defence

Aladedoye urged Justice Abdulmalik to direct El-Rufai to open his defence, arguing that the prosecution had presented evidence that required an explanation from the defendant.

The prosecuting counsel particularly referred to Exhibit B, which he described as the defendant’s confession.

According to him, the defence had failed to adequately address the exhibit in its no-case submission.

He argued that if the defence had properly considered the evidence before the court, it would not have filed the no-case submission.

Aladedoye therefore urged the court to reject the defence application and order El-Rufai to proceed with his defence.

After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter until October 26, 2026, when the court will rule on the former governor’s no-case submission.