The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday replayed a television interview featuring former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai as human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju testified in the phone-tapping case brought against the ex-governor by the State Security Service (SSS).
Adeyanju, appearing as the second prosecution witness before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, confirmed that the recording accurately captured events from the February 13 Arise Television programme.
In the interview, El-Rufai claimed that someone had intercepted a telephone conversation involving National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, revealing alleged plans to arrest him.
During his testimony, Adeyanju recalled public reports on February 12 suggesting that El-Rufai might be arrested or invited by security agencies upon his return from Cairo, Egypt.
He said he had urged the former governor to cooperate with any such invitation, emphasising that the matter was not politically motivated.
The witness noted that he and El-Rufai appeared on the same Arise TV programme that day, with his own segment following El-Rufai’s. Adeyanju said he listened to the former governor’s remarks and later countered several of them on air, describing some as untrue or half-truths.
After the broadcast, Adeyanju was invited by the SSS and made a formal statement. He told the court he confirmed El-Rufai’s claim that “someone tapped and gave him the information.”
At the request of the prosecution, led by Oluwole Aladedoye (SAN), the court replayed the interview video previously tendered by the first prosecution witness. Adeyanju affirmed that it matched what he had witnessed.
The court admitted several exhibits during the proceedings, including a subpoena served on Adeyanju (Exhibit G), a recording of his own interview on the programme, and the accompanying certificate of compliance (Exhibits H and H1). No objections were raised by the defence, led by Paul Erokoro (SAN).
In the replayed portions, Adeyanju was heard describing El-Rufai as an “ardent violator of human rights” and characterising his legal situation as “karma.” He also referenced ongoing investigations by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) into the former governor.
Under cross-examination, Adeyanju clarified that El-Rufai had said, “We listened to their calls,” rather than explicitly claiming he personally tapped the phone. He maintained he had no personal knowledge of how the alleged interception occurred and appeared in court only because he was summoned.
Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter until Tuesday, June 23, for continuation of the trial.
The SSS filed a five-count charge against El-Rufai in February following his Arise TV appearance. He was arraigned on April 23, pleaded not guilty, and was granted bail in the sum of N100 million.
The charges relate to alleged unlawful interception of communications, failure to report such activity, and actions compromising national security.
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