The trial involving former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, resumed on Monday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, with human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, appearing as a prosecution witness in the alleged phone-tapping case filed by the State Security Service (SSS).
Proceedings before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik focused on the replay of El-Rufai’s controversial interview, during which he made claims regarding the alleged interception of a phone conversation involving the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
Adeyanju, who testified as the second prosecution witness, told the court that the video shown accurately captured what transpired during the February 13 edition of an Arise Television programme where El-Rufai made the statements now forming part of the charges against him.
While giving evidence, Adeyanju told the court that before the television appearance, reports had circulated suggesting El-Rufai could be arrested or invited by security agencies shortly after returning from Cairo, Egypt.
According to him, he publicly advised the former governor to honour any invitation from security operatives, insisting at the time that such a move should not be viewed as political persecution.
Adeyanju further told the court that he and El-Rufai appeared on the same Arise Television programme on February 13, although they were interviewed separately.
“I went to Arise, and El-Rufai was also on the show. My segment came after his. During his 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 said.
He informed the court that after the interview, the SSS invited him for questioning, where he made a formal statement regarding what he heard during El-Rufai’s appearance.
According to Adeyanju, he clearly stated in his written statement that El-Rufai had claimed someone intercepted a call and provided him with the information.
“I confirmed that El-Rufai said that someone tapped and gave him the information. I put all that into writing,” he told the court.
Following an application by prosecution counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye (SAN), the court replayed the interview that had earlier been tendered during the testimony of the first prosecution witness.
After watching the video in open court, Adeyanju confirmed that the footage correctly reflected the events of February 13.
The prosecution also presented the subpoena issued to summon Adeyanju to testify. The document was admitted as evidence and marked Exhibit G after defence counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN), raised no objection.
Also tendered before the court was a recording of Adeyanju’s own interview on the programme, alongside a certificate of compliance. Both were admitted and marked as Exhibits H and H1.
In the video recording played in court, Adeyanju maintained that if the Federal Government truly intended to arrest El-Rufai, security operatives would likely have acted immediately upon his arrival at the airport.
He also referenced reports suggesting that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) was investigating the former Kaduna governor over alleged corruption-related matters.
Adeyanju stated that El-Rufai should face proper investigation over corruption allegations and noted that any prosecution should only come after investigations are concluded.
He also made strong remarks about El-Rufai’s past conduct in office, describing him as an “ardent violator of human rights” and calling his current legal troubles “karma.”
During cross-examination, defence counsel questioned Adeyanju on whether he heard El-Rufai directly admit to personally tapping any phone conversation.
In response, Adeyanju told the court that El-Rufai had used the words, “We listened to their calls.”
He added that if anyone claimed to have obtained private call information through hacking or interception, he would consider such a matter serious enough to report to authorities.
However, Adeyanju clarified that he had no direct knowledge of how the alleged interception happened or whether the NSA’s phone conversations were vulnerable to such access.
He also maintained that his appearance in court was strictly because he had been summoned.
After the proceedings, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter till June 23 for continuation of trial.
The SSS had filed a five-count charge against El-Rufai in February after comments he made during the Arise Television interview sparked concerns over alleged unlawful interception of private communications.
El-Rufai had claimed he intercepted a phone conversation involving Ribadu, which allegedly revealed plans by security operatives to arrest him.
The former governor was arraigned on April 23, where he pleaded not guilty to all charges. He was subsequently granted bail in the sum of N100 million.