El-Rufai Could Remain In Custody Till End Of Trial, As Judge Refuses Variation Tough Bail Conditions

Former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, will be filing a no-case-submission in his trial on alleged wire-tapping of the telephone lines of the National Security Adviser NSA.

The Department of State Service, DSS, is prosecuting El-Rufai  on a five-count charge bordering on alleged breach of national  security, and unlawful interception of communications system of the office of the NSA.

According to the originating summons, the DSS had alleged  that El-Rufai in February, 2026 while featuring in an interview session on Arise Television claimed to have Intercepted a telephone conversation involving the NSA, an offence the Service said is punishable under Section 12( 1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.

The prosecution at the resumed hearing on Tuesday June 23, 2026, informed that they will no longer be calling more witnesses, a development that led to the formal closure of their case.

Consequently, the defendant’s legal team led by Paul Erokoro  requested for a period of two weeks to enable them file a  no-case-submission.

According to Erokoro, the prosecution has failed to establish sufficient grounds to warrant El-Rufai filing a formal defence .

Similarly, the defence team filed an oral application demanding for a review of the bail conditions earlier granted the former Kaduna Governor, which they argued is too stringent, and difficult to meet.

Particularly, the defence team emphasized that the conditions requiring a Level 17 Civil Servant with properties in Maitama or Asokoro Districts of Abuja as one of the sureties, as well as an attestation letter from the Chairman of the Kaduna state Traditional Rulers Council are practically impossible in the present circumstances.

But while dismissing the bail application, presiding Judge Honourable Justice Joyce Abdul-Malik held that there are many instances of civil servants that own properties in the affected areas of Abuja.

Earlier, prosecution counsel Oluwole Aladedoye had opposed the bail variation application, contending that there are several property owners in Maitama,and Asokoro Districts who are civil  servants.