Court Plays El-Rufai Interview Over NSA Call Interception Allegation

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday replayed a televised interview involving former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, as part of ongoing proceedings over allegations that he claimed to have intercepted a telephone conversation linked to the National Security Adviser.

The trial, which is being heard before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik at the Federal High Court Abuja, centers on comments allegedly made by El-Rufai during a February 13 appearance on Arise News television.

During Monday’s sitting, human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju testified as the second prosecution witness, telling the court that the video replayed in court accurately reflected what transpired during the programme.

Adeyanju told the court that reports had circulated on February 12 suggesting El-Rufai might be arrested or invited by security agencies upon his return from Cairo, Egypt. He said he publicly advised the former governor to honour any such invitation, insisting the matter was not politically driven.

According to him, he later appeared on the same Arise Television programme after El-Rufai’s segment, where he challenged several statements made by the former governor, describing some as inaccurate or misleading.

He further informed the court that he was subsequently invited by the Department of State Services, where he provided a statement regarding the interview.

At the request of the prosecution counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye (SAN), the court replayed the interview previously tendered in evidence. After viewing it, Adeyanju confirmed that it accurately represented what was said during the broadcast.

The subpoena used to compel Adeyanju’s testimony was also admitted as Exhibit G without objection from defence counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN). Additionally, recordings of Adeyanju’s own interview, along with a certificate of compliance, were admitted as Exhibits H and H1.

In his earlier recorded remarks, Adeyanju had argued that if authorities intended to arrest El-Rufai, security agencies would have done so upon his arrival in Nigeria. He also referenced ongoing corruption-related allegations involving El-Rufai, stating that any investigation should be pursued if credible evidence existed.

During cross-examination, defence counsel questioned whether Adeyanju heard El-Rufai explicitly say he personally tapped a telephone conversation. In response, Adeyanju maintained that El-Rufai stated, “We listened to their calls,” adding that he would report any confirmed hacking activity, though he was unaware of how such interception could occur.

He also told the court he had no knowledge of whether conversations involving the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, could be accessed by third parties, stressing that his testimony was based strictly on what he was summoned to address.

Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the case until June 23 for continuation of trial proceedings.