By Tambaya Julius, Abuja 

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday dismissed a no-case submission filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over the alleged unlawful interception of telephone conversations involving the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, in her ruling, held that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to require El-Rufai to enter his defence in the five-count amended charge filed against him by the Department of State Services (DSS).

The judge subsequently ordered the former governor to open his defence and adjourned the case until November 25, 2026.

El-Rufai filed the no-case submission after the Federal Government closed its case, having called two prosecution witnesses.

Through his counsel, Paul Erokoro, the former governor urged the court to discharge and acquit him, arguing that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against him.

Erokoro maintained that the evidence presented was insufficient to justify requiring his client to defend himself against the allegations.

However, prosecution counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, urged the court to dismiss the application and direct El-Rufai to enter his defence.

Aladedoye argued that the oral and documentary evidence presented before the court established a case requiring the defendant to respond to the allegations.

In her ruling, Justice Abdulmalik agreed with the prosecution, holding that the matter should proceed to the defence stage. The decision effectively rejected El-Rufai’s request for discharge and acquittal at this stage of the proceedings.

The charges arose from allegations that El-Rufai unlawfully intercepted telephone conversations linked to Ribadu.

The controversy followed an interview El-Rufai granted on Prime Time, an Arise Television programme, in February 2026, during which he claimed that Ribadu’s telephone conversation had been intercepted.

During the interview, the former governor alleged that “someone wiretapped” the NSA’s phone, enabling him to listen to a conversation in which Ribadu allegedly instructed security operatives to arrest him.

The allegation subsequently formed the basis of the DSS prosecution against the former governor.

With the dismissal of his no-case submission, El-Rufai is expected to present his defence when the case resumes on November 25, 2026.

By Tambaya Julius, Abuja

The All Progressives Congress (APC) flag bearer for Karu/Gitata Constituency in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Hon. Dr. Abraham Habu Ekpo, has empowered 100 women with N50,000 each and wrappers as part of activities marking his 50th birthday.

The celebration, held in Tattara, his hometown in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, featured a thanksgiving service at ECWA Church, where he received prayers and blessings, as well as the commissioning of the APC Tattara/Kondoro Electoral Ward party office.

The event, themed “Celebrating 50 Years of Grace: 50@50 for 50 Empowerment,” attracted political leaders, traditional rulers, community stakeholders and supporters who gathered to celebrate Ekpo’s golden jubilee and thank God for his life.

As part of his 50th birthday celebration, Ekpo returned to Ebenezer Hospital in Keffi, his birthplace, to share the joy of his golden jubilee with nursing mothers and other patients receiving treatment. He offered financial assistance to patients to help offset their hospital bills.

Speaking at the event, the APC candidate for the Karu, Keffi and Kokona Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Daniel Ogah Ogazi, described Ekpo’s golden jubilee as a celebration of God’s grace and urged him to remain committed to faith, service and the welfare of the people.

Ogazi said Ekpo’s decision to mark his birthday with thanksgiving and an empowerment programme reflected his gratitude to God and concern for the well-being of others.

He prayed for the celebrant’s continued good health, wisdom and success, expressing confidence that divine guidance would sustain his political journey.

On his legislative agenda, Ogazi said he was committed to introducing bills that would address the needs and aspirations of residents across Karu, Keffi and Kokona local government areas, which make up the federal constituency.

He explained that the proposed establishment of a technical institution would help address concerns over limited access to existing technical schools, equipping young people with practical skills for employment and self-reliance.

According to him, the proposed bills formed part of his commitment to translating constituents’ needs into practical legislative action.

Ogazi stressed that effective representation went beyond lawmaking to include regular consultations with the people, identifying their challenges and developing appropriate laws and resolutions to address them.

“I am a legislator who always returns to those who sent me. I am a messenger, and they will always see me here,” he said.

He added that, if elected, he would continue to engage stakeholders across Karu, Keffi and Kokona to ensure that residents’ concerns informed his legislative priorities.

The APC candidate also pledged to sustain grassroots interventions, assuring constituents that his representation would continue to make a difference in their communities.

Reflecting on his legislative record in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Ogazi cited his contributions to the anti-kidnapping law enacted during Governor Abdullahi Sule’s administration, alongside other laws aimed at strengthening security and institutional development in the state.

He commended the working relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government, noting that cooperation was essential to enacting laws that would have meaningful impacts on citizens’ lives.

The celebration combined thanksgiving, women’s empowerment, humanitarian support and political engagement, with Ekpo using his golden jubilee to give back to his community and support residents in need.

Speaking at the commissioning of the Party Office, the Nasarawa State, Commissioner for Works, Infrastructure and Housing, Hon. Kwanta Yakubu, congratulated Ekpo on his 50th birthday, describing him as a capable and experienced individual whose leadership could contribute to the development of the constituency.

Yakubu expressed confidence in the APC-led administrations at the federal and state levels, saying the reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu and implemented in Nasarawa State under Governor Abdullahi Sule were yielding results.

He disclosed that the state government had approved the construction of the Gitata-Panda Road, describing the project as a demonstration of the government’s commitment to infrastructure development.

The commissioner urged residents to continue supporting the APC, arguing that the party’s record in governance and infrastructure development deserved sustained public support.

In her remarks, the councillor representing Tattara/Kondoro Electoral Ward, Hon. Barr. Ninda Yona, congratulated Ekpo on his golden jubilee and commended him for his support to the Constituency, particularly the donation of the party office.

She urged constituents to embrace the growth and progress of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and called on them to support the party in the forthcoming general elections.

From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

The Bayelsa state government has intensified disease surveillance and emergency preparedness following reports of an Ebola case in Nigeria, disclosing that five persons identified through airport screening are being monitored for 21 days.

However, the government said no case of Ebola had been recorded in the state urging residents to remain calm, observe preventive measures and avoid spreading unverified information capable of triggering public panic.

“The commissioner for Health, prof. Seiyefa Brisibe disclosed this while briefing journalists in Yenagoa the Bayelsa state capital, where he outlined measures being implemented to strengthen the state’s capacity to prevent, detect and respond to any possible introduction of the virus.

Brisibe said the federal ministry of health and social welfare, through the Nigeria centre for disease control and prevention, had confirmed an Ebola case on October 20, 2026, prompting heightened vigilance among public health authorities.

The commissioner urged residents to report suspected cases promptly to the appropriate health authorities and obtain information only from verified sources, including the state and federal ministries of health and other recognised public health agencies,he warned that spreading rumours about suspected Ebola infections could undermine public health interventions and create unnecessary fear.

“Please do not rely on rumours about Ebola that could cause panic or spread misinformation,anyone who suspects exposure to the virus should contact the nearest health facility, doctor or healthcare provider and use the designated emergency contact numbers provided by the authorities,” he said.

Brisibe stressed that preventing the introduction and spread of infectious diseases required the active participation of residents, noting that outbreaks could affect people irrespective of their ethnic background, race, economic status or social standing.

He urged residents to promptly report credible information about suspected cases rather than circulate unverified claims on social media or other communication platforms,”If you see anything, say something. If you hear anything, take action. This is not just about the Ministry of health or the Bayelsa state government; it is about all of us,” he added.

The commissioner also appealed to residents to maintain proper hygiene, particularly regular handwashing with soap and water and the use of appropriate hand sanitisers.

He called on ministries, government agencies, public institutions and private businesses to provide handwashing facilities on their premises to promote good hygiene practices,however, he cautioned against allowing the preventive measures to create unnecessary anxiety, explaining that hand hygiene was an essential public health practice that helped prevent several infectious diseases, not Ebola alone.

The government also warned against stigmatising people because of their travel history or suspected exposure to the virus.

Brisibe said anyone suspected of exposure should be subjected to appropriate medical assessment and established public health procedures rather than speculation, discrimination or public condemnation.

The commissioner said the state’s experience in managing previous public health emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic and cholera outbreaks had strengthened its capacity to prepare for and respond to infectious disease threats.

He recalled that during a diarrhoeal disease and cholera outbreak in 2025, the state adopted measures centred on prevention, community engagement, improved hygiene and effective case management.

According to him, more than 1,000 suspected cases were managed during the outbreak without any recorded deaths in public and private hospitals across the state.

He said the experience reinforced the importance of early intervention, effective communication, disease surveillance and prompt medical attention in reducing the impact of infectious disease outbreaks.

Brisibe explained that the state’s public health strategy was built around three major priorities: preventing outbreaks through public education and community engagement, limiting transmission through improved hygiene contact tracing and surveillance and ensuring the availability of essential medical supplies and treatment to reduce fatalities if cases occurred.

He said the same principles were being applied to the state’s Ebola preparedness efforts, with prevention remaining the immediate priority, “we have gained a lot of valuable experience in handling public health emergencies, including COVID-19, cholera and other infectious disease outbreaks”.

The government disclosed that it was strengthening emergency coordination and rapid-response capacity, with the Bayelsa Emergency Ambulance System providing additional logistical support for emergency medical services.

Brisibe said the Ministry of Health had activated relevant technical teams and appointed an incident manager to coordinate preparedness activities,he identified the director of public health, Dr Ebikapaye Okoyen, as the incident manager, while a technical team led by the ministry’s permanent secretary Dr. John Stow was coordinating the response.

The team is expected to coordinate the various response components, identify existing gaps and ensure that necessary preparedness measures are implemented. Saying the arrangement would improve coordination among health officials and strengthen the state’s ability to identify, assess and respond promptly to potential public health threats.

Brisibe explained that the movement of people through coastal waterways and offshore locations presented additional surveillance challenges, especially where fishing communities interacted with vessels operating in the area.

He said the government was examining potential gaps in monitoring such locations to improve early detection and ensure that vulnerable communities were not excluded from the state’s public health surveillance network.

He urged community stakeholders to disseminate accurate information, encourage residents to report suspected cases and discourage discrimination against anyone requiring medical evaluation.

The government assured residents that it remained committed to protecting public health through continuous surveillance, public education and emergency preparedness,it said strengthened disease surveillance had also helped the state monitor infectious disease threats reported in neighbouring states although the specific outbreak referenced during the briefing was not identified.

Brisibe reiterated the need for residents to remain calm, follow verified public health advisories and promptly report suspected cases through established channels, he emphasised that effective disease prevention required cooperation among government agencies, healthcare professionals, community leaders, the media and members of the public.

The commissioner urged residents to remain informed and vigilant, stressing that suspected cases should be reported to ensure proper medical assessment and prevent possible transmission, rather than to stigmatise affected individuals, “the protection of the public is a shared responsibility and together we can reduce the risk of Ebola entering and spreading within the state,” he said.