A witness for the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Deji Adeyanju, on Monday told a Federal High Court in Abuja that former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, admitted during a live television interview that he and others listened to conversations involving the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
Adeyanju, who appeared as the second prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of the former governor over allegations of unlawful interception of the NSA’s communications, said he was present during the Arise News programme where El-Rufai made the remarks that later became the subject of investigation and prosecution.
Led in evidence by counsel to the prosecution, Mr. Oluwole Aladedoye, Adeyanju told the court that he appeared on an Arise News interview programme on February 16, the same day El-Rufai featured on the station.
According to him, during the interview, the former governor stated that “we listened to the conversations of the NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.”
Adeyanju confirmed that he knew El-Rufai as a former governor of Kaduna State and recalled making a public statement after reports emerged that security operatives planned to arrest the former governor.
During proceedings, the prosecution tendered the subpoena issued to summon Adeyanju as a witness. The court admitted the document in evidence and marked it as Exhibit G.
The court also viewed the Arise News interview in open court. In addition, a flash drive containing Adeyanju’s own television interview, accompanied by a certificate of compliance, was tendered and admitted as exhibits.
Testifying further, Adeyanju said he was subsequently invited by DSS investigators and asked to recount what transpired during the television programme.
He said he informed investigators that he was present when El-Rufai made the statements and that, during further questioning on the programme, the former governor indicated that another individual had carried out the phone interception and supplied him with the information obtained.
Under cross-examination by defence counsel, Chief Paul Erokoro (SAN), Adeyanju clarified that he did not hear El-Rufai specifically state that he personally hacked the NSA’s telephone lines.
However, he maintained that he heard the former governor say, “we listened to the conversations of the NSA.”
When asked whether he knew the devices used by the NSA for communication and whether he would be surprised that DSS investigators did not ask the NSA which device was allegedly compromised, Adeyanju responded that those issues were outside his concern.
Following the witness’ testimony, Justice Mohammed Umar adjourned the matter until June 23, 2026, for continuation of trial.
The DSS had instituted a three-count charge against El-Rufai over allegations that he unlawfully intercepted the communications of the National Security Adviser.
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, the secret police accused the former governor of violating provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, as well as the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
According to the first count, El-Rufai allegedly admitted during an Arise TV interview on February 13, 2026, that he and others unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the NSA, an act the DSS says constitutes an offence under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes Act.
The second count alleges that El-Rufai acknowledged knowing an individual who unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s communications but failed to report the person to relevant security agencies, contrary to Section 27(b) of the same Act.
In the third count, the DSS alleged that El-Rufai and others still at large used technical equipment or systems to unlawfully intercept the NSA’s communications, thereby compromising public safety and national security in violation of Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act.
Godfrey Eshiemoghie
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