Alleged NSA Phone Tapping: EL-RUFAI to Enter 'No Case' Submission

Justice JOYCE ABDULMALIK of the Federal High Court in Abuja has declined to vary the bail conditions granted to former governor of Kaduna State, NASIR EL-RUFAI.

This comes as EL-RUFAI’s lawyer, PAUL EROKORO, informed the court that his client will enter a no-case submission in his trial of alleged wiretapping and breach of national security.

The Department of State Services, DSS, is prosecuting NASIR EL-RUFAI on five count charges bothering on alleged unlawful interception of telephone communications of the National Security Adviser, NUHU RIBADU.

The charges are based on claims purportedly made by EL-RUFAI during a live interview on Arise Television in February.

The DSS closed its case at the resumed hearing of the matter today, after the prosecution counsel, OLUWOLE ALADEDOYE, informed the court that there would be no further witnesses.

Following the development, EL-RUFAI’s lawyer, PAUL EROKORO, informed the court that the defence would file a no-case submission.

EROKORO, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, claims that the prosecution had failed to establish sufficient evidence to warrant his client entering a defence.

In the light of the request to vary his bail conditions, Justice JOYCE ABDULMALIK declined to grant the request and subsequently adjourned the matter until September 22 for the filing of the no-case submission and continuation of proceedings.

Earlier; Abuja-based lawyer and activist, DEJI ADEYANJU, testified in the trial of NASIR EL-RUFAI, saying he admitted during a television interview that he and other unnamed persons listened to the conversation of the National Security Adviser.

However, ADEYANJU further revealed under cross-examination by the defence counsel that he did not hear EL-RUFAI specifically say he hacked the phone lines of the NSA.