El-Rufai seeks no-case ruling as DSS closes prosecution in national security trial

Nasir El-Rufai, former Kaduna State Governor, on Tuesday moved for a no-case submission in his ongoing trial over alleged breach of national security, following the closure of the prosecution’s case by the Department of State Services (DSS).

The application was made by Paul Erokoro, SAN, his counsel, before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja shortly after the DSS confirmed it would not be calling additional witnesses.

At the resumed hearing, prosecution Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN, counsel, informed the court that the DSS had concluded its case, expressing confidence that the evidence already presented sufficiently established the charges against the former governor.

In response, the defence notified the court of its intention to file a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution had not provided sufficient evidence to warrant the continuation of the trial.

The defence counsel sought two weeks to file the application, a request not opposed by the prosecution, which also requested time to respond.

During the proceedings, Erokoro further applied for a variation of the bail conditions earlier imposed on El-Rufai, describing them as stringent and difficult to fulfil.

He argued that the conditions, including requirements for level 17 civil servants with property in Maitama or Asokoro, as well as verification and attestation from the Kaduna State traditional council, were overly restrictive.

The DSS, however, opposed the application, maintaining that eligible public officers who meet the conditions exist and urged the court to reject the request.

Justice Abdulmalik declined the application, ruling that qualified civil servants owning property in the specified areas were available to satisfy the bail terms.

The court adjourned the matter until September 22 for hearing of the no-case submission and continuation of proceedings.

The case stems from allegations brought by the DSS after El-Rufai’s comments during an Arise Television interview, in which he claimed to have intercepted a telephone conversation allegedly involving the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

He alleged that the conversation suggested instructions for his arrest, linking the purported directive to an incident at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on February 12 after his return from Cairo, Egypt.

El-Rufai was arraigned on April 23 on a five-count amended charge relating to alleged interception of telephone communications, to which he pleaded not guilty.