By Victor Osula, Abuja
The Department of State Services (DSS) has closed its case against former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in the ongoing alleged wiretapping trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja, paving the way for the defence to challenge the prosecution’s case through a no-case submission.
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, prosecuting counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, informed the court that the prosecution would not be calling any further witnesses in the matter. The announcement marked the formal closure of the DSS case against the former governor.
Following the development, counsel to El-Rufai, Paul Erokoro (SAN), told the court that the defence would be filing a no-case submission, contending that the prosecution had failed to establish sufficient evidence linking his client to the allegations before the court.
Erokoro subsequently sought two weeks within which to file the application, arguing that the evidence presented by the prosecution was inadequate to warrant the former governor being called upon to enter a defence.
In response, the prosecution requested a further two weeks to enable it to file a reply to the anticipated no-case submission.
The defence team also urged the court to review and vary some of the bail conditions earlier imposed on El-Rufai, describing them as excessively stringent and difficult to satisfy.
According to the defence, the conditions requiring sureties who are Level 17 civil servants with landed properties in Abuja’s Maitama or Asokoro districts posed significant challenges.
The defence further argued that the requirement for verification and attestation letters from the Kaduna State Traditional Council was burdensome and impractical.
However, the prosecution opposed the application, insisting that public officers who met the stipulated requirements were available and that there was no justification for altering the bail terms previously granted by the court.
In her ruling, trial judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, declined the request to vary the bail conditions.
The court held that qualified civil servants with properties in the designated locations exist and that there was no sufficient basis to warrant a review of the conditions.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned proceedings until September 22, 2026, for the filing and adoption of the no-case submission as well as the continuation of the trial process
