Nasir El-Rufai, former Kaduna State governor, is scheduled to file a no-case motion in his alleged wiretapping trial after the Department of State Services closed its case against him before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday.
El-Rufai is being prosecuted by the DSS on an upgraded five-count charge of suspected unlawful communication interception and national security breach.
According to the charges, the former Kaduna State governor claimed on Arise Television during a live interview in February that he intercepted a phone conversation involving Ribadu that allegedly revealed plans by security operatives to arrest him, which the agency said violated Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
At the resumed hearing, the DSS counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, informed the court that the prosecution would not be calling any further witnesses, prompting the formal closure of its case.
El-Rufai’s lawyer, Paul Erokoro (SAN), then informed the court that the defense would file a no-case submission, contending that the prosecution had failed to establish sufficient evidence to warrant his client entering a defense. The defense sought two weeks to file the no-case submission.
Erokoro also requested a change in the bail restrictions previously given to the former governor, calling them onerous and difficult to meet.
He contended that the criteria required Level 17 civil personnel owning properties in Abuja’s Maitama or Asokoro areas to stand as sureties, as well as verification and attestation letters from the Kaduna State Traditional Council, were onerous.
The prosecution, however, rejected the application, saying that public officers who fit the qualifications existed and urging the court to deny the request.
In her ruling on the application, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik declined to change the bail requirements, stating that civil personnel who owned houses in the designated districts might act as sureties.
The judge then adjourned the case to September 22 for the filing of the no-case submission and the continuation of proceedings.
