IBN News | October 26, 2026
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai shared an affectionate moment with his wife at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, kissing her upon his arrival for proceedings in his ongoing alleged wiretapping trial.
The warm exchange offered a personal moment amid the legal battle facing the former governor, who is standing trial over allegations relating to the unlawful interception of telephone communications involving National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
However, proceedings took a significant turn when Justice Joyce Abdulmalik dismissed El-Rufai’s no-case submission and ordered him to enter his defence in the case.
The judge held that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to warrant requiring the former governor to respond to the allegations. The ruling followed the conclusion of the prosecution’s case, during which witnesses and other evidence were presented.
El-Rufai had asked the court to discharge and acquit him without calling on him to defend himself, arguing through his lawyers that the prosecution had failed to establish sufficient evidence against him.
The prosecution, represented by counsel Oluwole Aladedoye, opposed the application, maintaining that the evidence presented before the court justified proceeding to the defence stage.
Following the ruling, the court adjourned the case until November 25, 2026, for El-Rufai to open his defence.
The charges arose from comments the former governor reportedly made during a television interview in February 2026 concerning the alleged interception of Ribadu’s telephone communications. The Department of State Services subsequently brought charges against him.
El-Rufai has denied the allegations through his plea, and the case remains before the court. Monday’s ruling does not amount to a conviction; it means the judge considers the prosecution’s evidence sufficient to require a response from the defence.
As the case moves to its next stage, attention will turn to the arguments and evidence the former governor presents when proceedings resume in November.
