Court Sets October 26 to Decide El-Rufai Phone Tapping Case

(Nasir El-Rufai. Photo by Vanguard News)

A Federal High Court in Abuja will rule on October 26 on whether to dismiss charges against Nasir El-Rufai, the detained former Kaduna State governor.

El-Rufai is accused of unlawfully intercepting phone calls of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.

His lawyers argued the government failed to prove its case and asked the court to discharge him.

The prosecution insisted they have enough evidence to tie him to the allegations.

El-Rufai is facing trial over comments he made in an online interview, on February 13.

He admitted knowing someone who had illegally intercepted the NSA's calls.

He said he got the information from this person.

The charges include breaching national security and failing to report the crime to authorities.

El-Rufai claims his TV remarks were casual comments, not a confession.

He said they weren't made under caution or warning like statements made to police.

A casual remark on television cannot be a judicial confession, he argued.

He's been denied bail variation.

The court rejected his request to change the conditions, which require him to provide level 17 civil servants with properties in certain Abuja areas as sureties.

El-Rufai was Kaduna governor between 2015 and 2023.

He also served as FCT minister under President Obasanjo.