A prosecution witness in the trial of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, on Monday told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the former governor admitted during a live television interview that he and others monitored conversations involving the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
The witness, Deji Adeyanju, who testified as the second prosecution witness, said he was present during an Arise Television programme on February 16, 2026, where El-Rufai allegedly made the remarks that have now become central to the criminal charges against him.
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, Adeyanju informed the court that El-Rufai stated during the interview that “we listened to the conversations of the NSA.”
Adeyanju also confirmed that he knows El-Rufai as a former governor of Kaduna State and recalled issuing a public statement after reports emerged that security operatives planned to arrest the former governor.
During the proceedings, the prosecution tendered the subpoena used to summon Adeyanju, which was admitted in evidence and marked as Exhibit G.
The court further viewed a recording of the Arise Television interview involving El-Rufai. Following the playback, Adeyanju confirmed the authenticity of the recording and the statements allegedly made by the former governor.
The prosecution also tendered a flash drive containing Adeyanju’s own television interview alongside a certificate of compliance. Both documents were admitted as Exhibits H and H1.
While testifying, Adeyanju disclosed that he was subsequently invited by the Department of State Services (DSS), where investigators questioned him about what transpired during the television programme.
According to him, he informed investigators that he witnessed El-Rufai make the statements on air and that, when pressed further during the interview, the former governor indicated that another individual carried out the alleged phone interception and passed the information to him.
Under cross-examination by defence counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN), Adeyanju clarified that he did not hear El-Rufai specifically admit to hacking the NSA’s telephone lines. However, he maintained that he heard him say, “we listened to the conversations of the NSA.”
When asked whether he knew the communication devices used by Ribadu or whether investigators sought details of any allegedly compromised device, Adeyanju responded that such matters were outside his knowledge.
Meanwhile, the prosecution tendered an official gazette, which was admitted without objection from the defence and marked as Exhibit I.
Justice presiding over the matter subsequently adjourned the case until June 23, 2026, for continuation of trial.
The DSS had earlier filed a three-count charge against El-Rufai, accusing him of unlawfully intercepting the communications of the National Security Adviser.
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, the secret police alleged that El-Rufai’s comments during an Arise Television interview amounted to an admission of unlawful interception of Ribadu’s communications, contrary to provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
The charges further allege that the former governor failed to report individuals involved in the alleged interception and participated in activities that compromised national security through the unlawful monitoring of the NSA’s communications.
El-Rufai has denied wrongdoing, and the trial continues.
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