Isaac Samuel
A witness in the ongoing trial of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the defendant allegedly made a public admission during a television interview that communications of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, were intercepted.
The witness, Barrister Deji Adeyanju, who appeared as the second prosecution witness and a Department of State Services (DSS) operative, testified on Monday that El-Rufai made the statement during a live programme on Arise Television on February 16, 2026.
According to Adeyanju, the former governor, while speaking on the programme, stated that “we listened to the conversations of the NSA,” a remark the witness said amounted to an acknowledgment of interception of the NSA’s phone communications.
He told the court that the alleged comment was made during the same broadcast date referenced in the charge against the defendant, and that the interview was later subjected to formal scrutiny in court proceedings.
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, Adeyanju confirmed that he is familiar with El-Rufai, describing him as a former governor of Kaduna State, and also recalled that he had issued a public statement following media reports suggesting the possibility of the ex-governor’s arrest at the time.
The prosecution tendered a subpoena compelling his appearance in court, which was admitted into evidence and marked as Exhibit G.
As part of the proceedings, the court also reviewed a recorded clip of the Arise Television interview in which El-Rufai featured. After watching the footage, Adeyanju confirmed that the recording accurately reflected what was said during the broadcast.
The prosecution further tendered a flash drive containing Adeyanju’s own television interview, accompanied by a certificate of compliance. Both were admitted in evidence and marked Exhibits H and H1.
Adeyanju also told the court that he was subsequently invited by the DSS, where he was questioned about his presence at the television studio and what transpired during the interview involving the former governor. He said he confirmed to investigators that he was present when the statement was allegedly made on air.
He added that during further questioning, El-Rufai was also said to have suggested during the interview that another individual carried out the alleged phone interception and that the information was relayed to him.
Under cross-examination by defence counsel, Paul Erokoro, Adeyanju clarified that although he did not hear El-Rufai explicitly state that he personally hacked or directly intercepted the NSA’s telephone lines, he maintained that he heard the statement: “we listened to the conversations of the NSA.”
When pressed further on technical details such as how the NSA’s communications systems operate or whether investigators established which device may have been compromised the witness said such matters were outside his responsibility and knowledge.
He also stated that it would not be within his purview to determine the specific method through which any alleged interception occurred or whether DSS investigators had questioned the NSA on the particular devices involved.
During the sitting, the prosecution also tendered an official gazette document, which was admitted without objection from the defence and marked as Exhibit I.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter to June 23, 2026, for continuation of trial proceedings.
The DSS had earlier filed a three-count charge against El-Rufai before the Federal High Court in Abuja, alleging offences connected to the unlawful interception of telecommunications and violations of provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, as well as the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, the prosecution alleged that the former governor, while appearing on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme in Abuja, admitted to or acknowledged involvement in the interception of the NSA’s telephone communications.
One of the counts alleges that El-Rufai stated during the broadcast that he and others unlawfully intercepted communications of the National Security Adviser, an act said to contravene provisions of the Cybercrimes Act.
Another count alleges that he admitted knowing individuals involved in the alleged interception but failed to report them to security agencies.
A third count accuses him, alongside others still at large, of using technical systems capable of compromising national security and public safety, thereby allegedly causing reasonable apprehension among citizens.
