The Federal High Court, Abuja Division, on Tuesday fixed October 26 to rule on a no-case submission filed by former Governor Nasir El-Rufai in a phone-tapping case brought against him by the State Security Service.

Mr El-Rufai is being prosecuted on allegations bordering on breach of national security, following his alleged admission of wiretapping phone conversations of Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik fixed the date after the ex-governor’s lawyer, Akinyemi Aremu, and the SSS’ counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, adopted their processes and presented arguments for and against the no-case submission.

Mr Aremu, who appeared for Mr El-Rufai, adopted their processes. He urged the court to hold that the prosecution had failed to establish a case requiring the former governor to enter a defence.

In response, SSS counsel adopted their counter-affidavit in opposition to the no-case submission.

Mr Aladedoye argued that the defence failed to address Exhibit ‘B’, which the prosecution claimed contained Mr El-Rufai’s alleged admission about tapping Mr Ribadu’s phone. He submitted that since the prosecution had established a prima facie case against Mr El-Rufai, the defendant is required by law to enter his defence.

The senior lawyer urged the court to dismiss the application and order Mr El-Rufai to enter his defence.

After hearing the lawyers’ arguments, Ms Abdulmalik adjourned the matter until October 26 for a ruling.

The SSS called two witnesses, a service operative and legal practitioner Deji Adeyanju, to establish its case against Mr El-Rufai.

Mr Adeyanju, who testified as a subpoenaed witness, told the court that the ex-governor allegedly admitted in a TV interview that he wiretapped the phone lines belonging to the NSA.

After the prosecution closed its case, the defendant opted for a no-case submission.

The SSS sued Mr El-Rufai after he claimed during a TV interview that he intercepted a telephone conversation involving Mr Ribadu.

The ex-governor had alleged that the conversation, on the telephone, revealed instructions to security operatives to arrest him.

He linked the alleged directive to an incident at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on February 12 after his return from Cairo, Egypt.

(NAN)