The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a no-case submission filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in his ongoing trial over the alleged unlawful interception of the telephone communications of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik gave the ruling, holding that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to require El-Rufai to enter his defence against the allegations.
The dismissal of the no-case submission means the former governor cannot secure the dismissal of the case at this stage and is required to respond to the prosecution’s evidence.
A no-case submission is an application by a defendant asking the court to dismiss a case without requiring a defence, on the grounds that the prosecution has failed to establish a case requiring an answer.
With the application dismissed, the trial will proceed to the defence stage, where El-Rufai will have the opportunity to respond to the allegations against him.
The ruling does not amount to a conviction, as the case remains ongoing and the allegations are yet to be finally determined by the court.
