Court Replays El-Rufai Interview in NSA Phone Tapping Case

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday replayed an interview granted by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, during the ongoing case involving allegations of phone tapping.

Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju appeared before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik as the second prosecution witness in the case filed against El-Rufai by the State Security Service (SSS).

Adeyanju told the court that the recording accurately captured the February 13 interview on Arise Television, where El-Rufai made claims about an alleged interception of a telephone conversation involving the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

He said reports had emerged on February 12 that El-Rufai could either be arrested or invited by security agencies after returning from Cairo, Egypt. According to him, he advised the former governor to honour any invitation and stated that the matter was not politically motivated.

Adeyanju explained that he appeared on the same television programme as El-Rufai, although his segment aired later. He said he disagreed with several statements made by the former governor during the interview.

“I listened to him speak on many issues and I countered many of the things he said because they were not true or were half-truths,” he told the court.

The witness added that he was later invited by the SSS and made a statement confirming that El-Rufai said someone had intercepted and provided him with information.

Following an application by the prosecution, the court replayed the interview earlier presented as evidence. After viewing the video, Adeyanju confirmed that it reflected what he witnessed.

The prosecution also tendered Adeyanju’s interview recording and a certificate of compliance, which were admitted as exhibits.

During cross-examination, defence counsel asked whether El-Rufai directly stated that he tapped a telephone call. Adeyanju replied that the former governor said, “We listened to their calls.”

He added that he would report any claim of a hacked phone conversation because he did not know how such an interception was carried out.

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

The SSS filed a five-count charge against El-Rufai in February after his Arise Television interview, where he alleged that he intercepted a phone conversation involving Ribadu that suggested plans by security officials to arrest him.

El-Rufai was arraigned on April 23, pleaded not guilty, and was granted bail of ₦100 million.