The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday admitted evidence from a Department of State Services, DSS, witness in the ongoing trial of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, over allegations that he wiretapped the telephone lines of National Security Adviser, NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
At the hearing, human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju, who testified as the second prosecution witness, told the court that he was present at Arise Television on February 16, the same day El-Rufai appeared on the station and allegedly made comments about monitoring the NSA’s communications.
Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, Adeyanju said El-Rufai stated during the television interview that, “we listened to the conversations of the NSA.” He told the court that he later confirmed the statement to DSS investigators after being invited to recount what transpired at the studio.
The prosecution tendered the subpoena used to summon Adeyanju, which the court admitted as Exhibit G. The court also watched the Arise Television interview involving El-Rufai, after which Adeyanju identified the recording and confirmed the statements allegedly made during the programme.
In addition, the prosecution tendered Adeyanju’s own interview, contained in a flash drive, along with a certificate of compliance. Both were admitted in evidence as Exhibits H and H1.
Adeyanju further testified that when DSS officials questioned him, he told them he was present when El-Rufai made the remarks on air. According to him, El-Rufai also said during the interview that another person carried out the phone tapping and passed the information on to him.
However, under cross-examination by defence counsel Paul Erokoro, Adeyanju clarified that he did not hear El-Rufai specifically say he personally hacked the NSA’s phone lines. He maintained, nonetheless, that he heard him say, “we listened to the conversations of the NSA.”
When asked whether he knew the devices used by the NSA for calls, and whether he would be surprised that DSS investigators did not ask which of the NSA’s devices was allegedly compromised, Adeyanju said those issues were not his concern.
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The prosecution also tendered an official gazette without objection from the defence. The court admitted it as Exhibit I.
Justice adjourned the matter until June 23 for continuation of trial
The DSS had filed a three-count charge against El-Rufai in suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, accusing him of offences linked to the alleged interception of Ribadu’s phone communications.
According to the charge, the former governor allegedly admitted during an appearance on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme on February 13, 2026, that he and others unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s communications. The prosecution said the alleged act contravenes Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
In a second count, the DSS alleged that El-Rufai stated during the same interview that he knew and related with a person who unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s communications, but failed to report the individual to security agencies, contrary to Section 27(b) of the Cybercrimes Act.
The third count accused El-Rufai and others still at large of using technical equipment or systems to unlawfully intercept the NSA’s communications in a manner said to have compromised public safety and national security, contrary to Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
The case grew out of comments El-Rufai allegedly made during a February interview on Arise TV, where he was reported to have claimed knowledge of intercepted conversations involving the NSA.
Crediblenewsng.com
