El‑Rufai declines to file a case as DSS closes its investigation.

Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El‑Rufai chose to file a no‑case submission in his pending trial over alleged national security breaches on Tuesday.

Through his lawyer, Paul Erokoro, SAN, the ex‑governor informed Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja that the Department of State Services (DSS) had closed its case shortly before the hearing.

When the case was called, DSS counsel Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN, told the court that the prosecution would not call any further witnesses.

Aladedoye explained that, based on the evidence presented to date, the prosecution believed it had established the offences for which El‑Rufai was charged.

Erokoro then notified the court that the defence intended to file a no‑case submission, contending that the prosecution had failed to provide sufficient evidence against the former governor.

He requested a two‑week period to submit the application, and the prosecution was granted a similar period to respond.

Earlier, Erokoro had sought a modification of some bail conditions previously imposed on El‑Rufai, describing them as overly stringent and difficult to satisfy.

He argued that the bail terms were too strict, especially the requirements for level 17 civil servants owning property in Maitama or Asokoro, and the need for verification and attestation letters from the Kaduna State traditional council.

Aladedoye opposed the request, asserting that qualified public officers who meet those conditions exist and urging the court to reject the application.

Justice Abdulmalik denied the request to vary the bail conditions, noting that civil servants with properties in the specified locations do exist.

The judge adjourned the matter until September 22 for the filing of the no‑case submission and the resumption of the trial.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the DSS sued El‑Rufai after he claimed in an Arise TV interview that he had intercepted a telephone conversation involving National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.

El‑Rufai alleged that the conversation, conducted over the phone, contained instructions for security operatives to arrest him.

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

El‑Rufai was arraigned on April 23 on charges of intercepting the NSA’s telephone line and pleaded not guilty to the five‑count amended charge. (NAN)