The courtroom drama just got hotter — Nasir El-Rufai is now asking the judge to throw out the DSS wiretapping case against him, saying they haven’t proved a thing.

So, here’s the latest on that wiretapping case involving former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai. The DSS just wrapped up its case against him at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday — and now El-Rufai’s legal team is going on the offensive.

His lawyers are filing what’s called a “no-case submission.” Basically, they’re telling the court, “Look, the DSS hasn’t actually shown enough evidence for this trial to even continue.” If the judge agrees, El-Rufai walks without ever having to open his defence.

Quick recap of what landed him in court: The DSS dragged him in on an amended five-count charge. They’re saying he unlawfully intercepted communications and breached national security. The whole thing stems from a live interview El-Rufai did on Arise Television back in February. During that chat, he claimed he’d intercepted a phone call involving Ribadu — one that supposedly exposed plans by security operatives to arrest him. The DSS says that claim alone violates Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes Amendment Act, 2024.

Back in court this week, DSS counsel Oluwole Aladedoye told Justice Joyce Abdulmalik they’re done calling witnesses. Case closed, from their end.

That’s when El-Rufai’s lead counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN), stepped in. He argued the prosecution hadn’t made its case and asked for two weeks to file the no-case submission. The DSS asked for another two weeks to respond, which the court granted.

But there was another twist. Erokoro also tried to get El-Rufai’s bail conditions relaxed, calling them “stringent.” Right now, the conditions require Level 17 civil servants who own property in Abuja’s Maitama or Asokoro to stand as sureties, plus verification letters from the Kaduna State Traditional Council. Erokoro said that’s a tall order.

The DSS wasn’t having it, though. They insisted public officers who meet those conditions do exist and urged the court to leave things as they are.

Justice Abdulmalik sided with the prosecution on that one. She refused to vary the bail terms, saying there are indeed civil servants with property in those districts who can stand as sureties.

So, what’s next? The judge has adjourned until September 22. That’s when El-Rufai’s team will formally file the no-case submission and proceedings will continue.

— cbinews.tv

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