Court Replays El-Rufai Interview as Deji Adeyanju Testifies in Alleged Phone-Tapping Trial

Court Replays El-Rufai Interview as Deji Adeyanju Testifies in Alleged Phone-Tapping Trial

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday replayed an interview granted by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, during proceedings in the alleged phone-tapping case brought against him by the State Security Service (SSS).

Human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, appeared before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik as the second prosecution witness. He told the court that the interview accurately reflected statements made by El-Rufai during a February 13 appearance on Arise Television, where the former governor alleged that a telephone conversation involving National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, had been intercepted.

Adeyanju testified that reports had surfaced a day earlier suggesting El-Rufai could be arrested or invited by security agencies after returning from Cairo, Egypt. According to him, he publicly urged the former governor to cooperate with any investigation, insisting the matter should not be viewed as political persecution.

The lawyer said both he and El-Rufai appeared on the same Arise Television programme, although his segment aired later. He stated that he listened to El-Rufai’s comments and challenged several of them, describing some as inaccurate or only partly true.

Following the interview, Adeyanju said he was invited by the SSS, where he made a written statement confirming that El-Rufai had claimed someone intercepted and shared the information with him.

During the hearing, the prosecution tendered Adeyanju’s subpoena, along with a flash drive containing his interview and a certificate of compliance. The court admitted the documents as evidence.

Under cross-examination, Adeyanju said El-Rufai stated during the interview that “we listened to their calls,” but clarified that he had no knowledge of how the alleged interception occurred.

The case was adjourned until June 23 for continuation of the trial. El-Rufai, who pleaded not guilty to the five-count charge, remains on bail set at ₦100 million.