Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has moved for a no-case submission in his trial over alleged unlawful interception of communications, after the Department of State Services (DSS) closed its prosecution.
The DSS is prosecuting El-Rufai on an amended five-count charge bordering on unlawful interception of communications and breach of national security.
The charges stem from comments El-Rufai made during a live television interview in February, in which he claimed to have intercepted a telephone conversation allegedly revealing plans by security operatives to arrest him.
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, prosecution counsel Oluwole Aladedoye informed the Federal High Court that the DSS had concluded its case and would call no further witnesses.
In response, El-Rufai’s lead counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN), announced that the defence would file a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution failed to establish sufficient evidence requiring his client to open a defence.
Both sides were granted two weeks to file their respective processes. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjourned proceedings to September 22.
Erokoro had also sought a review of El-Rufai’s bail conditions, describing them as overly stringent, but the court rejected the request and maintained the existing terms.
The outcome of the no-case submission will determine whether the charges are dismissed or if El-Rufai must enter his defence in the high-profile case.
