JUST IN: El-Rufai Pleads Not Responsible to Telephone-Tapping Prices as Court docket Adjourns Case
The Division of State Providers (DSS) on Thursday arraigned former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, earlier than the Federal Excessive Court docket in Abuja on an amended five-count cost bordering on alleged illegal interception of communications and breach of nationwide safety.
El-Rufai, who appeared earlier than Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, pleaded not responsible to all of the counts.
On the resumed listening to, DSS counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye (SAN), knowledgeable the court docket that the matter was slated for the defendant to take his plea, including {that a} additional amended five-count cost had been filed on April 13.
He urged the court docket to exchange the sooner three-count cost with the amended one.
Rely 4 of the amended expenses reads: “That you simply, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, grownup, male, deliberately and with out authorization, intercepted the communications of the Nationwide Safety Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, as admitted by you on 13 February, 2026, whereas showing as a visitor on Come up TV Station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, inside the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court docket, and thereby dedicated an offence opposite to and punishable beneath Part 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, and so on) Modification Act, 2024.”
Rely 5 reads: “That you simply, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, grownup, male and others nonetheless at massive, someday in 2026, in Abuja, inside the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court docket, did use technical tools or techniques which compromised public security, nationwide safety and instilled cheap apprehension of insecurity amongst Nigerians by unlawfully intercepting the communications of the Nationwide Safety Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to which you admitted throughout an interview on 13 February, 2026, on Come up TV Station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja and thereby dedicated an offence opposite to and punishable beneath Part 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.”
Counsel to the defendant, Oluwole Iyamu (SAN), confirmed he had been served with the amended cost and said that he didn’t oppose the substitution.
Following the applying, the court docket struck out the sooner three-count cost and proceeded to learn the amended counts to the previous governor, who once more entered a “not responsible” plea.
The prosecution subsequently requested three consecutive trial dates, however the defence objected, arguing that the defendant’s entry to authorized counsel might be restricted attributable to his custody beneath the Impartial Corrupt Practices and Different Associated Offences Fee.
The defence additionally knowledgeable the court docket of a pending bail software filed on February 17, noting {that a} additional affidavit was initially lacking from the case file earlier than it was later discovered throughout proceedings.
Nevertheless, the DSS stated it didn’t oppose the bail software.
In a separate movement, the prosecution sought an order to guard the identities of two witnesses by excluding their names from public information and changing them with pseudonyms, citing security considerations for his or her households.
The defence opposed the request, arguing that it violated the constitutional proper of an accused individual to know his accusers and that no concrete proof had been offered to justify fears of focused assaults.
The defence additional urged the court docket to compel the prosecution to reveal proof of proof to allow correct trial preparation, an software the prosecution opposed, describing it as unrelated to the filed processes.
Moreover, the defence filed an software searching for to quash the amended cost, whereas the prosecution urged the court docket to dismiss it, arguing that it lacked advantage and couldn’t stand after the plea had been taken.
After listening to arguments from each side, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the case to Might 18, 19, and 20 for listening to.