The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed October 26, 2026, to deliver its ruling on a no-case submission filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in his trial over alleged unlawful interception of telephone communication.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik set the date on Tuesday after lawyers representing the prosecution and defence presented their arguments on the application.
At the resumed proceedings, prosecuting counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN, said the matter was scheduled for the defence to adopt El-Rufai’s no-case submission.
However, Akinyemi Aremu, counsel to the former governor, told the court that the defence team was led by Paul Erokoro, SAN, who was on his way to court and had asked for the case to be stood down.
The judge rejected the request, stating, “I do not do stand-downs.”
Aremu then sought permission for his co-counsel, Ekere, to conduct the proceedings.
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Ekere subsequently applied for an extension of time to regularise the defendant’s no-case submission. The court granted the application and deemed the processes relating to the submission properly filed and served.
He thereafter adopted the no-case submission and asked the court to uphold it and discharge El-Rufai.
Ekere maintained that the prosecution had not presented sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case against the former governor or require him to enter a defence.
In response, Aladedoye urged the court to reject the no-case submission and direct El-Rufai to commence his defence.
He argued that the defence had failed to address Exhibit B, which he described as the defendant’s confession.
“If they had averred it, they won’t make the no-case submission, so I urge my lord to invite the defendant to open his case,” he said.
Justice Abdulmalik thereafter adjourned the case until October 26 for ruling on El-Rufai’s no-case submission.