By Abigail David

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai is set to file a no-case submission after the Department of State Services (DSS) closed its case against him in an alleged wiretapping trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The DSS is prosecuting El-Rufai on an amended five-count charge relating to the alleged unlawful interception of communications and breach of national security.

According to the prosecution, El-Rufai claimed during a live interview on Arise Television in February that he had intercepted a telephone conversation involving National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, which allegedly revealed plans by security operatives to arrest him. The DSS contends that the statement contravenes provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.

At Tuesday’s hearing, counsel for the DSS, Oluwole Aladedoye, informed the court that the prosecution would not call additional witnesses, leading to the formal closure of its case.

Following the development, El-Rufai’s counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN), notified the court of the defence’s intention to file a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution had failed to establish sufficient evidence requiring his client to enter a defence.

The defence requested two weeks to file the application, while the prosecution sought a similar period to respond.

Erokoro also asked the court to review El-Rufai’s bail conditions, describing them as difficult to meet. He argued that the requirements for Level 17 civil servants with properties in Abuja’s Maitama or Asokoro districts to serve as sureties, alongside verification and attestation letters from the Kaduna State Traditional Council, were too stringent.

However, the prosecution opposed the request, maintaining that qualified public officers capable of meeting the conditions were available.

Ruling on the application, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik declined to vary the bail terms, holding that eligible civil servants with properties in the designated areas could serve as sureties.

The court subsequently adjourned the case until September 22 for the filing of the no-case submission and further proceedings.

By Francis Wilfred

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has re-arraigned a former Chairman, Board of Directors, defunct Skye Bank Plc ( now Polaris Bank Limited) Tunde Ayeni before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Apo, Abuja for an alleged N15.6 billion fraud.

According to a press statement signed by the Head, Media and publicity, Dele Oyewale, Ayeni was re-arraigned on an amended 18-count charge bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust, misappropriation, and diversion of funds amounting to N15.6 billion following the EFCC`s submission of additional proof of evidence.

He pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to him.Ayeni was first arraigned on May 4, 2026 on a 17-count charge.Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the matter till July 6, 2026, for commencement of trial.

By Francis Wilfred

Operatives of the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested one Chukwujindu Goodness Nchekwube, Chief Executive Officer, Goodben Global Travels and Tour Limited alongside Rogers Oluwaseyi Eruku (a.k.a Bakary Rogers Yanni), a suspected fraudster, for allegedly defrauding 24 victims the sum of N68, 020, 000. 00 under the pretence of assisting them to process work visas.

According to a press statement signed by the Head Media and publicity, Dele Oyewale, a petitioner, James Ikechukwu, alleged that Nchekwube approached him and introduced herself as a visa consultant capable of assisting people to procure work visas to their desired countries, through her company, Goodben Global Travels and Tour Limited.

He further alleged that between September, 2024 and December, 2025, he contracted Nchekwube’s company (Goodben Global Travels and Tour Limited) to process work visas to various countries for 20 (Twenty) of his clients and the sum of N57, 620, 000. 00 was transferred to her company’s accounts for processing the visas, with a promise to deliver them at a stipulated period of time.

“However, after receiving the money, Mrs Nchekwube blatantly refused to deliver the visas to my clients as agreed, rather, she converted the money to her personal use. After much persistence for her to deliver the work visas, she delivered some visas to some of my clients but to our greatest surprise, it was discovered that the visas/Offer Letters were forged to make my clients believe that they were genuine”, the petitioner alleged.

In the course of investigation, the suspect claimed that she gave the said money to Eruku who had presented himself to her as a reliable person capable of procuring visas for people to any part of the world. She claimed that the said fake visa/Offer Letters were procured by Eruku. In a curious twist, another petitioner, Oranezi David Chinedu alleged that Eruku, sometime in May 2024, offered to procure work visas for him and three of his friends to Ireland and some other countries.

He claimed that the total money fraudulently collected by Eruku for the visas was N10, 400, 000. 00 only for him to handover forged documents to them. “I was highly disappointed at the criminal act by Bakary Rogers Yanni to have collected money for visa processing purposes only to issue me and my friends fake documents”, he said.The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.