Nasir El-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna state, has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss charges filed against him by the Department of State Services (DSS), describing them as incompetent and lacking merit.
The DSS instituted the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026 against him. The court fixed February 25, 2026, for hearing before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.
Seeks Dismissal, N2bn Costs
According to Muyiwa Adekeye, his media aide, El-Rufai asked the court to quash or strike out the charges.
He argued that it discloses no offence known to law and constitutes a gross abuse of the court process.
The former Kaduna governor maintained that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against him and asked the court to discharge him.
In addition, he demanded N2 billion in costs against the DSS, accusing the agency of misusing the criminal justice system to harass and publicly victimise him.
Lists 17 Grounds
El-Rufai based his application on 17 grounds.
He said the counts cite offences unknown to the law and do not meet statutory requirements.
The ADC chieftain alleged duplicity in the charges and absence of evidence.
Furthermore, he questioned the prosecutorial competence of the DSS, saying that the charges violate his constitutional right against self-incrimination.
He accused the agency of acting in bad faith and engaging in political persecution.
Alleges Rights Violations
In the court papers, El-Rufai alleged violations of his fundamental rights under the 1999 Constitution.
He cited Section 36(5) on the presumption of innocence, Section 36(11) on the right against self-incrimination, and Section 36(12), which requires that offences be defined in written law.
He also referenced Section 39 on freedom of expression and Section 40 on freedom of association.
DSS Notified
His lawyers said they filed the motion on February 17 but notified the Director-General of the DSS through a letter dated February 18.
The letter, they said, formally informed the agency of the application and the composition of his legal team.
