By Jelili Gbadamosi
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to open his defence in the alleged unlawful interception of telephone communications involving National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik gave the order on Monday after dismissing El-Rufai’s no-case submission, ruling that the Department of State Services, DSS, had presented sufficient evidence requiring the former governor to defend himself.
El-Rufai is the sole defendant in the case, which centres on allegations that he unlawfully intercepted Ribadu’s telephone communications.
The former governor, through his counsel, Akinyemi Aremu, had argued that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against him after the DSS called two witnesses and closed its case.
However, DSS counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN, urged the court to reject the no-case submission, arguing that the defence had failed to sufficiently address Exhibit “B”.
According to the prosecution, the exhibit contains an alleged admission by El-Rufai that he intercepted Ribadu’s telephone communications.
With the no-case submission dismissed, El-Rufai is now required to enter his defence before the court.
