Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai has signalled plans to file a no-case submission after the Department of State Services (DSS) closed its case in the ongoing trial concerning allegations of unlawful telephone interception and threats to national security.
At Tuesday’s proceedings, Oluwole Aladedoye, counsel representing the DSS, informed the court that the prosecution had concluded its presentation of evidence and would not be calling any further witnesses.
According to Aladedoye, the security agency believes the evidence already tendered before the court is sufficient to establish the allegations brought against El-Rufai.
Reacting to the development, Paul Erokoro, counsel to El-Rufai, told the court that the defence would proceed with a no-case submission, maintaining that the prosecution had not presented enough evidence to warrant his client entering a defence.
Erokoro requested a two-week period to file the application, while the DSS legal team sought an equivalent timeframe to respond to the motion.
The defence also asked the court to review El-Rufai’s existing bail conditions, arguing that some of the requirements were excessively difficult to satisfy.
Specifically, Erokoro contended that the conditions requiring sureties who are level 17 civil servants owning property in Maitama or Asokoro, alongside verification and attestation letters from the Kaduna State Traditional Council, were overly restrictive.
However, the prosecution opposed the request, urging the court to maintain the conditions already imposed.
In his ruling, Justice Yusuf Halilu Abdulmalik declined the application for a variation of bail terms, holding that eligible civil servants who met the stipulated requirements could reasonably be found.
El-Rufai was earlier granted bail in the sum of ₦100 million by the court, alongside conditions requiring him to produce sureties meeting strict civil service and property ownership criteria.
The judge subsequently fixed September 22 for the filing and consideration of the no-case submission.
Background
El-Rufai is facing a five-count amended charge brought by the DSS over allegations that he illegally intercepted telephone communications involving Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser.
The case stems from comments made by the former governor during an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme, where he claimed that “someone wiretapped” Ribadu’s phone and that he had listened to conversations in which the NSA allegedly instructed security operatives to arrest him.
The DSS subsequently initiated legal proceedings, arguing that the remarks suggested unlawful interception of private communications and raised concerns relating to national security. El-Rufai has consistently denied wrongdoing and has challenged the basis of the charges against him.
