The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed October 26, 2026, to rule on a no-case submission filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, seeking to terminate his trial over alleged unlawful interception of telephone communications involving National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

El-Rufai, through his counsel, Paul Erokoro, SAN, urged the court to discharge and acquit him on the five-count amended charge brought against him by the Federal Government through the Department of State Services (DSS).

The former governor argued that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case requiring him to enter a defence. He described the charge as legally defective and urged the court to uphold his no-case submission and bring the proceedings to an end.

However, prosecution counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN, urged Justice Joyce Abdulmalik to dismiss the application and order El-Rufai to open his defence. Aladedoye argued that the oral and documentary evidence presented by the prosecution was sufficient to link the defendant to the allegations.

After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter until October 26 for ruling.

The Federal Government had earlier closed its case after calling two witnesses. The charges arose from comments made by El-Rufai during an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on February 13, 2026.

The prosecution alleges that El-Rufai admitted during the interview that he knew and was associated with an individual who unlawfully intercepted Ribadu’s telephone communications. He is also accused of failing to report the alleged offence to the appropriate security agencies.

El-Rufai has denied that his television comments amounted to a confession. His lawyers argued that a statement made during a public television interview, without caution or the safeguards applicable to a suspect in custody, could not legally be treated as a confessional statement.

The former governor had also previously sought to have the charge quashed, advancing 17 grounds in support of his application.

The court, however, declined to terminate the case and instead ordered an accelerated hearing.

El-Rufai, who governed Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023 and previously served as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, is also challenging stringent bail conditions imposed by the court.

On July 23, Justice Abdulmalik dismissed his application seeking variation of the bail conditions, including a requirement for him to produce Level 17 civil servants with properties in Maitama or Asokoro, alongside verification and attestation letters from the Kaduna State traditional council.

The court held that the conditions were intended to ensure the former governor’s attendance at trial and found no sufficient reason to alter them.