A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, to enter his defence if he so desires in his ongoing trial over his alleged unlawful interception of the telephone communications of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik issued the order on Monday while ruling on a no-case submission made by El-Rufai.

Justice Abdulmalik dismissed the no-case submission on the grounds that there is sufficient evidence furnished by the prosecution to warrant the court calling on the defendant to enter his defence if he so desires.

The judge adjourned till November 25 for the defence.

El-Rufai is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) on a five-count amended charge.

During the hearing of the no-case submission on September 22 the prosecution, represented by Oluwole Aladedoye (SAN), faulted it and urged the court to dismiss it and order the defendant to enter his defence.

Aladedoye argued that the defendant failed to address Exhibit “B”, which the prosecution claimed contains El-rufai’s admission in relation to the tapping of Ribadu’s phone.

He contended that since the prosecution has effectively established a prima facie case against El-rufai, through its two witnesses, the defendant is required by law to enter a defence.

Defence lawyer, Akinyemi Aremu, while adopting his client’s no-case submission, argued that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against the ex-governor to require him to be called upon to enter a defence.

Ademu urged the court to uphold the no-case submission and discharge his client.

El-Rufai opted for a no-case submission after the prosecution closed its case upon calling two witnesses – an operative of the DSS and a lawyer, Deji Adeyanju.

Adeyanju, who testified as a subpoenaed witness, told the court that the ex-governor admitted during a television interview that he wiretapped the NSA’s phone lines.