A Federal High Court in Abuja has just told former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai: your no-case submission won't fly. You've got to enter your defence.

In a ruling on Monday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, dismissed El-Rufai’s no-case submission and ordered him to open his defence in the case of alleged unlawful interception of the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

The judge’s reasoning was simple: the prosecution has put forward enough evidence that the court cannot just discharge him. He now has to defend himself, if he wishes to. The case has been adjourned to 25 November for defence.

The background you need:

This isn’t just any phone-tapping allegation. It pits two heavyweights against each other. Ribadu is Nigeria’s NSA, the country’s top security coordinator. El-Rufai, a two-term governor of Kaduna State and former FCT Minister, is one of the most vocal and influential figures in the ruling APC.

Under Nigerian law, intercepting telephone communications without lawful authority is a serious offence under the Cybercrimes Act 2015 (as amended) and the Nigerian Communications Act. Conviction can attract heavy fines and jail time.

At its heart, this is about privacy, power, and where the line is drawn. If proven, unlawful interception of the NSA’s phone would be a major breach of national security protocol. If not proven, it raises questions about political witch-hunts.

For Nigerians, it matters because wiretapping cases test our laws on surveillance and accountability. Who can tap who, and who gives the order?

What is a no-case submission?

It’s a legal move where a defendant says: “Even with all the prosecution’s evidence, there’s no case against me, so dismiss it without me saying a word.” When a judge dismisses it, as Justice Abdulmalik just did, it means the court believes there is a case to answer.

What next?

All eyes are now on 25 November. El-Rufai’s legal team has three options: call witnesses and enter a full defence, make a statement from the dock, or rest his case on the prosecution’s evidence. The trial continues.

Attribution: This report is based on court proceedings reported by cbinews.tv.

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