A prosecution witness in the trial of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that El-Rufai admitted during a television interview that conversations involving National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu were monitored.
The witness, lawyer Deji Adeyanju, testified on Monday that he appeared on an Arise Television programme on February 16, the same day El-Rufai granted an interview during which he allegedly stated, “we listened to the conversations of the NSA.”
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel Oluwole Aladedoye, Adeyanju told the court he later met DSS investigators and confirmed he was present when the remarks were made on air. He further stated that El-Rufai suggested during the interview that another individual carried out the phone interception and relayed the information to him.
The court admitted several exhibits, including the subpoena used to summon Adeyanju, recordings of the Arise Television interview, and a flash drive containing Adeyanju’s own interview alongside a certificate of compliance.
Under cross-examination by defence counsel Paul Erokoro, Adeyanju acknowledged that he did not hear El-Rufai expressly admit to hacking the NSA’s phone lines, but maintained that he heard him say, “we listened to the conversations of the NSA.” He added that questions regarding the NSA’s communication devices or the scope of DSS investigations were outside his knowledge.
The prosecution also tendered an official gazette, which was admitted as evidence without objection from the defence. The case was adjourned until June 23 for continuation of trial proceedings.
The DSS is prosecuting El-Rufai on a three-count charge bordering on alleged unlawful interception of the NSA’s communications, offences said to contravene provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act 2024 and the Nigerian Communications Act 2003. Prosecutors claim the former governor admitted involvement in the interception during a February 13 television appearance and also failed to report those allegedly responsible.
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