The trial of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, took a dramatic turn after a Department of State Services, DSS, witness told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the agency uncovered his alleged involvement in the interception of phone conversations belonging to National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, through a television interview he granted on Arise Television.
The witness, whose identity was concealed by the court and identified only as “APC”, appeared as the first prosecution witness in the ongoing trial bordering on alleged illegal phone tapping and related offences.
Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye (SAN), the DSS operative said the agency monitored the television programme after receiving intelligence that El-Rufai would appear on the show.
According to the witness, the former governor made statements during the interview which the DSS considered confessional.
“My Lord, the service got information that the defendant would appear on Arise TV Prime Time Show,” the witness told the court.
He said after monitoring the interview, he reported the development to his superiors.
“I told them that there was a confessional statement where the defendant said he tapped the conversation of the National Security Adviser,” he added.
The court heard that the interview was later copied into a flash drive and preserved as part of the prosecution’s evidence.
The prosecution subsequently tendered the flash drive and a certificate of compliance before the court. El-Rufai’s lawyer, Paul Erokoro (SAN), did not object to the move.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik admitted both items as exhibits.
Following the admission, the court approved an application by the prosecution for the video interview to be played openly in court.
El-Rufai, dressed in a blue agbada, watched the footage from the dock alongside lawyers and other observers present in court.
During the interview shown in court, the former governor spoke extensively about an incident involving DSS operatives at the Abuja airport after his return from Egypt.
He claimed security officials attempted to force him to accompany them without presenting any formal invitation.
“I came out of the plane and a young man came to me and said, ‘I am SSS and they would want to meet with me in our office,’” El-Rufai said in the video.
He also claimed that several operatives later surrounded him at the airport.
According to him, he insisted on seeing an official invitation before complying with the request.
El-Rufai further alleged during the interview that the attempt to arrest him was ordered by the National Security Adviser.
The former governor stated that information about the alleged directive came through intercepted phone conversations.
“We listened to their calls, someone tapped the phone conversation and told us that he gave the order,” he said during the broadcast played in court.
The statement immediately became one of the central issues raised by the prosecution.
El-Rufai also accused security agencies of being used against him for political reasons.
He claimed he was under pressure over political alignments linked to President Bola Tinubu’s second-term ambition.
The former governor maintained in the interview that he had nothing to hide and challenged anyone to present evidence of corruption against him after years in public office.
Proceedings were briefly interrupted after the audio quality of the video deteriorated during playback.
Following the technical issue, the prosecution requested more time to produce a clearer version of the recording.
The defence did not oppose the request.
Justice Abdulmalik thereafter adjourned the matter for continuation of hearing.
Earlier in the proceedings, the court had granted El-Rufai bail in the sum of N100 million with one surety in like sum.
The judge ruled that the surety must own landed property in either Maitama or Asokoro in Abuja and must be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 17.