Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has petitioned the Federal High Court to dismiss charges brought against him by the Department of State Services (DSS).
El-Rufai is contesting the validity and legality of the charges, describing them as an abuse of the judicial process.
According to his media adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, El-Rufai filed an application seeking to quash Charge Number FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, which was instituted against him by the DSS.
The case is set for hearing on February 25, 2026, before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.
In his motion, El-Rufai is requesting the court to strike out the charges on the grounds that they are legally incompetent, fail to disclose any known offence, and represent a gross abuse of court procedure.
Among the reliefs sought, the former governor is requesting: an order to quash the charge in its entirety, an order for his discharge on the basis that no prima facie case has been established, and an order awarding ₦2 billion in costs against the DSS for what he describes as a misuse of the criminal justice system.
Court documents indicate that the motion cites 17 grounds for dismissing the charges, including constitutional invalidity, lack of prosecutorial competence, insufficient evidence, and claims of political persecution.
The filing further argues that the prosecution breaches several constitutional provisions, including the presumption of innocence, the right against self-incrimination, the requirement that offences be clearly defined in law, and the freedoms of expression and association.
El-Rufai’s legal team has formally notified the Director General of the DSS of the application and provided details of his counsel.
The court is expected to hear arguments from both parties when the case comes up on February 25. The outcome could determine whether the charges proceed to trial or are struck out at this preliminary stage.