The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday replayed a television interview granted by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, as the trial in the alleged phone-tapping case instituted against him by the Department of State Services (DSS) continued.
During the proceedings before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, human rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, testified as the second prosecution witness, confirming that the interview recording accurately reflected statements made by El-Rufai during an Arise Television programme aired on February 13.
Adeyanju told the court that reports had surfaced on February 12 suggesting that El-Rufai might be arrested or invited by security agencies upon his return from Cairo, Egypt.
According to him, he publicly advised the former governor to honour any invitation from security agencies, maintaining at the time that the matter was not politically motivated.
Recalling events surrounding the television programme, Adeyanju said he and El-Rufai appeared on the same edition of the Arise TV show, although his own segment was aired after that of the former governor.
“I was in the studio and listened to his interview. He spoke on several issues, and when it was my turn, I challenged many of his assertions because I considered them untrue or only partially true,” Adeyanju told the court.
The witness said he was subsequently invited by the DSS, where he made a statement concerning the interview.
“I confirmed that El-Rufai stated that someone intercepted a conversation and provided him with the information. I included that in my written statement,” he said.
At the request of the prosecution, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Oluwole Aladedoye, the court replayed the video recording of the interview, which had earlier been tendered through the first prosecution witness.
After viewing the footage, Adeyanju affirmed that it accurately represented the interview he watched on February 13.
The prosecution also tendered the subpoena issued to Adeyanju, which was admitted as Exhibit G after defence counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN), raised no objection.
In addition, the court admitted a flash drive containing Adeyanju’s interview and a certificate of compliance as Exhibits H and H1, respectively.
In the interview played before the court, Adeyanju maintained that if the government truly intended to arrest El-Rufai, security operatives would have apprehended him immediately upon his arrival at the airport.
He also referred to reports alleging that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) was investigating the former governor and argued that any prosecution should only follow the completion of such investigations.
Adeyanju further described El-Rufai as an “ardent violator of human rights,” suggesting that his current legal challenges were a consequence of his past actions.
Under cross-examination, Erokoro questioned the witness on whether he heard El-Rufai explicitly state during the interview that he personally intercepted a telephone conversation.
In response, Adeyanju said the former governor had declared, “We listened to their calls.”
The witness added that if anyone informed him that a telephone conversation had been hacked, he would consider it a matter worthy of reporting because he would not know how such access was obtained.
However, Adeyanju acknowledged that he had no knowledge of how the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, conducted his telephone communications or whether they could be accessed by third parties.
He also emphasised that his appearance in court was solely in compliance with a subpoena.
Following the testimony, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned further hearing in the matter until June 23.
The DSS filed a five-count charge against El-Rufai in February after the former governor alleged during an Arise Television interview that he had obtained details of a telephone conversation involving the National Security Adviser, which purportedly revealed plans by security agencies to arrest him.
El-Rufai was arraigned on April 23 and pleaded not guilty to all charges. The court subsequently granted him bail in the sum of N100 million pending the determination of the case.
Leave a Reply