A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday ordered the former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, to enter his defence in his ongoing trial regarding the alleged illegal wiretapping of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
Presiding Judge Joyce Abdulmalik handed down the directive after formally dismissing a no-case submission that had been filed by the defendant’s legal team.
The court ruled that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against the former governor, presenting sufficient evidence to require a formal response to the charges brought before the bench.
The ruling stems from allegations investigated and prosecuted by federal authorities, centering on the unauthorized interception of telecommunications belonging to the top security chief.
Counsel representing the former governor had previously argued that the state failed to produce enough substantial evidence to substantiate the claims, urging the court to throw out the case without compelling the defense to present witnesses.
However, Justice Abdulmalik rejected the application, affirming that the matter must proceed to enable the defendant to present his defense against the charges.
With the rejection of the no-case submission, the court has positioned the trial for its next procedural phase, where El-Rufai is expected to present testimonies and rebuttal evidence to counter the state’s assertions.
Proceedings are scheduled to resume as the court sets subsequent dates for the defense to officially open its case.
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