The Department of State Services (DSS) has closed its case against former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, in his ongoing trial over alleged comments relating to the wiretapping of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The development was announced during proceedings before the Federal High Court in Abuja, where El-Rufai is facing charges stemming from statements he made during a February 13, 2026, interview on Arise Television.
According to the prosecution, El-Rufai had alleged during the interview that an individual secretly intercepted Ribadu’s communications and disclosed details of the conversation to him, prompting the DSS to institute criminal proceedings.
During the hearing, prosecution witness and lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, testified regarding the contents of the televised interview. However, under cross-examination, he acknowledged that El-Rufai did not state that he personally participated in any act of wiretapping.
Following the presentation of its evidence, the DSS formally closed its prosecution, paving the way for the defence to challenge whether the evidence presented is sufficient for El-Rufai to be required to enter a defence.
The court also rejected an application seeking a review of El-Rufai’s bail conditions, which require a N100 million bond and other conditions earlier imposed by the court.
The trial judge subsequently fixed September 22, 2026, for hearing the defence’s no-case submission, a legal procedure through which El-Rufai’s lawyers will argue that the prosecution failed to establish enough evidence to justify continuing the trial.
If the court agrees with the no-case submission, El-Rufai could be discharged without being required to call witnesses or present further evidence. However, if the application is dismissed, the former governor would proceed to open his defence.
The case has attracted significant public and political attention due to the personalities involved and its implications for national security, political discourse, and the limits of public commentary on sensitive intelligence matters.
El-Rufai, a prominent opposition figure and former member of the ruling party, has remained critical of the current administration and maintains his innocence regarding the allegations against him.
Legal analysts say the next stage of the proceedings will be crucial in determining whether the case proceeds to a full defence or comes to an early conclusion through the no-case application.
