El-Rufai Trial: Witness Tells Court He Did Not Hear Ex-Governor Admit to Hacking NSA Lines

The trial of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai continued at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, June 22, with the second prosecution witness, Mr. Deji Adeyanju, testifying that he did not hear the former governor specifically claim to have hacked the telephone lines of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

El-Rufai, who served as governor between 2015 and 2023, is facing an amended five-count charge bordering on his alleged complicity in the unlawful interception of the NSA’s phone communications. The charge, filed by the Department of State Services, cites Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024, and also includes a count for failing to report the alleged offence.

It was alleged that during an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on February 13, the former governor stated that he knew and related with an individual who had illegally intercepted the NSA’s telephone communications.

However, Adeyanju, a lawyer and activist who was also a guest on the same programme on that date, told the court during cross-examination by the defence team led by Paul Erokoro, SAN, that he did not hear El-Rufai specifically claim to have hacked the NSA’s phone lines.

“We listened to the conversations of the NSA,” Adeyanju said he heard the former governor state.

Adeyanju, who was subpoenaed to testify, said he had issued a public statement after reports emerged that El-Rufai was to be arrested. He added that he was later invited by the DSS, where he confirmed being present when the former governor spoke about the alleged interception.

According to the witness, El-Rufai stated during the programme that someone carried out the phone tapping and passed the information to him.

The court, presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, viewed a clip of the Arise Television interview and admitted further evidence, including a flash drive containing Adeyanju’s own interview with the same station on the same day. Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the case until Tuesday for continuation of hearing.

It will be recalled that the court had earlier granted El-Rufai bail to the tune of N100 million with a surety in like sum, subject to stringent conditions, including the production of a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 17 as surety and the surrender of all travelling documents. The former governor has remained in detention despite meeting the bail conditions.

In a motion filed to challenge the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, El-Rufai argued that the DSS has no legal basis to elevate a “casual remark” he made during a television interview to a “confession” that he had tapped the NSA’s telephone line.

Sources: Vanguard, Channels TV