A Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai must respond to the prosecution’s evidence in his alleged unlawful telephone interception trial, dismissing his application seeking to be discharged without entering a defence.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik gave the direction on Monday while ruling on El-Rufai’s no-case submission, holding that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to warrant a response from the former governor.

The ruling clears the way for the trial to proceed to the defence stage, although El-Rufai retains the option of deciding whether to present his defence.

The case centres on allegations that El-Rufai unlawfully intercepted the telephone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

The latest development comes amid other legal battles involving the former governor.

In a separate proceeding last week, an FCT High Court presided over by Justice Sylvanus Oriji dismissed El-Rufai’s ₦120 million fundamental rights suit against the Department of State Services, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, and the Attorney-General of the Federation.

The court held that the actions challenged by El-Rufai, including invitations by the agencies, an attempted arrest at the airport and the seizure of his passport, did not violate his fundamental rights.

It also awarded costs of ₦200,000 against each respondent.

El-Rufai is separately involved in corruption and money laundering proceedings linked to the ICPC in Kaduna.

The dismissal of the no-case submission does not amount to a finding of guilt, as the allegations remain subject to determination by the court.