The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday replayed a video of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai’s Arise Television interview as lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju testified in the ongoing phone-tapping case brought against the ex-governor by the State Security Service (SSS).
Adeyanju, who appeared before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik as the second prosecution witness, told the court that the recording accurately reflected what transpired during the 13 February television programme in which El-Rufai made claims about listening to a telephone conversation involving the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
While giving evidence, Adeyanju identified El-Rufai as “a very popular politician and former Governor of Kaduna State.”
The SSS instituted the case after El-Rufai alleged during the Arise Television interview that he had access to a phone conversation involving the NSA.
According to El-Rufai, Ribadu directed security operatives to arrest him following his return from Cairo, Egypt, through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on 12 February.
The former Governor was arraigned on 23 April on a five-count charge bordering on the alleged illegal interception of the NSA’s phone call. He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of ₦100 million.
The trial commenced in May with a prosecution witness, identified only by the code name APC, who testified that security officials monitored the television interview and preserved the recording as part of their investigation.
*Adeyanju Recounts Events*
At Monday’s proceedings, Adeyanju tendered the subpoena that summoned him to court. The prosecution counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye (SAN), applied to have it admitted in evidence, while defence counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN) raised no objection. Justice Abdulmalik subsequently admitted it as Exhibit G.
Led in evidence by the prosecution, Adeyanju recalled that reports surfaced on 12 February suggesting El-Rufai could either be arrested or invited by security agencies.
He said that before the interview aired, he had publicly urged the former Governor to honour any invitation from security agencies, insisting the issue should not be viewed as political persecution.
Adeyanju also told the court that Arise Television invited him to appear on the same programme on 13 February, immediately after El-Rufai’s interview.
“I went to Arise, and El-Rufai was also on the show. My segment came after his. During his interview, I listened to him speak on many issues, and I countered many of the things he said because they were not true or were half-truths,” he testified.
The prosecution then sought and obtained the court’s permission to replay the interview earlier tendered during the testimony of the first prosecution witness.
In the recording previously played on 18 May, El-Rufai was heard saying that “the government used to listen to our calls” and that “someone tapped the National Security Adviser’s phone call” and informed him about an alleged directive for his arrest.
After watching the recording again on Monday, Adeyanju confirmed it accurately reflected what he witnessed on 13 February.
The court also admitted a flash drive containing Adeyanju’s own interview with Arise Television anchor, Charles Aniagolu, along with a certificate of compliance, as Exhibits H and H1 after the defence raised no objection.
*What Adeyanju Said in the Interview*
In the interview played before the court, Adeyanju argued that if the SSS truly intended to arrest El-Rufai, he would have been apprehended immediately upon arrival at the airport.
He also referred to reports that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) was already investigating the former Governor.
When asked whether El-Rufai would honour an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Adeyanju said he doubted an airport arrest was ever likely.
“I don’t think so, knowing the kind of person that he is,” he said.
He explained that security officials may have approached El-Rufai because his name was on a watch list, adding that the usual procedure would be to seize the person’s passport.
Adeyanju maintained that El-Rufai was not being persecuted and argued that any claims of victimisation should be weighed against events that occurred during his administration as Kaduna Governor.
He further stated that El-Rufai should first be investigated over allegations of corruption before any prosecution, giving him an opportunity to defend himself in court.
During the interview, Adeyanju also described El-Rufai as “the oppressor of yesterday,” accusing him of demolishing properties belonging to political opponents and alleging repeated violations of human rights while in office. He described the former Governor’s current legal troubles as “karma.”
Back in court, Adeyanju disclosed that after the television interview, the SSS invited him to its office, where he made a statement confirming that El-Rufai had claimed someone intercepted the NSA’s phone conversation and relayed the information to him. The statement, earlier marked as Exhibit E, was shown to the witness, who confirmed it.
*Defence Cross-examines Witness*
During cross-examination, defence counsel, Paul Erokoro, asked Adeyanju whether he heard El-Rufai expressly state that he personally tapped a phone call.
Adeyanju replied that El-Rufai had said, “We listened to their calls.”
Asked whether hearing a conversation on speakerphone amounted to phone tapping, the defence argued that it did not.
Although the prosecution objected, the defence relied on Section 7 of the Evidence Act, insisting the questions were relevant.
Adeyanju responded that if he had been present while a phone conversation was played on speaker, he would have stated exactly that.
He added that he did not know how the NSA handled his phone conversations and said it was not his concern.
When asked whether he would be surprised if the NSA could not identify which device was allegedly hacked, Adeyanju said he had no opinion on the issue.
He also told the court that he appeared only because he was compelled by the subpoena and had “no choice.”
Following the witness’s testimony, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the case until Tuesday, 23 June, for continuation of trial.
El-Rufai, once a close ally of President Bola Tinubu and a key supporter of his 2023 presidential campaign under the All Progressives Congress (APC), later fell out with the President after the Senate declined to confirm his ministerial nomination over security concerns.
The former Kaduna Governor is also facing several other legal cases in Kaduna over alleged actions taken during his time in office, including corruption-related allegations.
