From Victor Osula, Abuja
A prosecution witness in the trial of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Monday, told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the former governor stated during a television interview that he and his associates listened to conversations involving the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
The witness, human rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, testified as the second prosecution witness in the case instituted by the Department of State Services (DSS) against El-Rufai over the alleged unlawful interception of Ribadu’s communications.
Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, Adeyanju told the court that he appeared on an Arise Television programme on February 13, 2026, the same day El-Rufai featured on the station and allegedly made the remarks that led to the charges against him.
According to Adeyanju, El-Rufai stated during the interview: “We listened to the conversations of the NSA.”
The witness said he knew El-Rufai as a former governor of Kaduna State and recalled issuing a public statement after reports emerged that security agencies were planning to arrest the former governor.
During the proceedings, the prosecution tendered the subpoena used to summon Adeyanju to testify. The document was admitted in evidence and marked as Exhibit G.
The court also viewed footage of El-Rufai’s Arise Television interview. Following the screening, Adeyanju confirmed the authenticity of the recording and identified the statements allegedly made by the former governor during the broadcast.
A flash drive containing Adeyanju’s own interview on the matter, along with a certificate of compliance, was also tendered by the prosecution and admitted as Exhibits H and H1.
Testifying further, Adeyanju told the court that he was subsequently invited by operatives of the DSS to provide information regarding the television interview.
He said he informed investigators that he was present when El-Rufai made the statements on air and that when pressed further during the programme, the former governor indicated that another person had allegedly carried out the phone interception and relayed the information to him.
Under cross-examination by defence counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN), Adeyanju maintained that while he did not hear El-Rufai expressly state that he personally hacked the NSA’s phone lines, he heard him say that his associates or cohorts “listened to the conversations of the NSA.”
Asked whether he knew how the NSA made phone calls and whether he was surprised that investigators did not ask Ribadu which communication device was allegedly compromised, Adeyanju replied that such matters were outside his knowledge and not issues that concerned him.
The prosecution also tendered an official gazette, which was admitted without objection and marked as Exhibit I.
Following the witness’s testimony, the court adjourned proceedings until Tuesday, June 23, 2026, for continuation of the trial.
The DSS had arraigned El-Rufai on a three-count charge bordering on the alleged unlawful interception of the NSA’s communications, contrary to provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, the prosecution alleged that El-Rufai admitted during the February 13 Arise Television interview that he and his associates unlawfully intercepted Ribadu’s communications, contrary to Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes Act. He is also accused of knowingly associating with an individual who allegedly intercepted the NSA’s communications without reporting the person to security agencies, contrary to Section 27(b) of the Act.
The third count alleges that El-Rufai and others still at large used technical equipment to unlawfully intercept Ribadu’s communications in a manner that compromised public safety and national security, contrary to Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
El-Rufai has denied the allegations and is contesting the charges as the prosecution continues to call witnesses in support of its case.
