The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday admitted key evidence presented by the Department of State Services (DSS) in the ongoing trial of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, over allegations that he unlawfully intercepted the telephone communications of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
The prosecution’s second witness, human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju, testified that he was present at Arise Television on February 16, 2026, when El-Rufai allegedly made remarks suggesting that he had access to the NSA’s private conversations.
Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, Adeyanju told the court that during the programme, El-Rufai stated that “we listened to the conversations of the NSA.”
The witness said he later issued a public statement after reports emerged that security agencies were planning to arrest the former governor.
During proceedings, the prosecution tendered the subpoena used to summon Adeyanju, which the court admitted as Exhibit G. The court also viewed the Arise Television interview featuring El-Rufai, after which Adeyanju identified the recording and confirmed the statements attributed to the former governor.
The prosecution further tendered a flash drive containing Adeyanju’s own television interview, along with a certificate of compliance. Both were admitted in evidence as Exhibits H and H1.
Adeyanju also told the court that he was subsequently invited by the DSS to provide information regarding the television interview. According to him, he informed investigators that he witnessed El-Rufai make the comments on air and that, when questioned further during the programme, the former governor indicated that another individual had carried out the alleged phone interception and relayed the information to him.
Under cross-examination by defence counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN), Adeyanju clarified that he did not hear El-Rufai specifically state that he hacked the NSA’s phone lines. However, he maintained that he heard him say, “we listened to the conversations of the NSA.”
When asked whether he knew what communication devices the NSA used or whether investigators had sought such information, Adeyanju responded that those matters were outside his knowledge and responsibility.
The court also admitted an official gazette tendered by the prosecution without objection from the defence. The document was marked as Exhibit I.
Justice presiding over the matter subsequently adjourned proceedings until June 23, 2026, for continuation of trial.
The DSS had earlier filed a three-count charge against El-Rufai, accusing him of violating provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
According to the charges, the former governor allegedly admitted during an Arise Television interview on February 13, 2026, that he and others unlawfully intercepted the communications of the National Security Adviser. The DSS also accused him of failing to report individuals allegedly involved in the interception and of participating in activities that compromised national security through unlawful access to protected communications.
El-Rufai has denied the allegations, and the trial continues.