Proceedings resumed on Monday in the case involving former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai at the Federal High Court in Abuja, with the court reviewing video evidence linked to statements he made about National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
Gatekeepers News reports that a key part of the hearing centred on an interview el-Rufai granted to Arise Television in February, in which he alleged that information about instructions for his arrest came from a monitored telephone conversation involving the NSA.
The Department of State Services (DSS), which is prosecuting the case, presented activist and lawyer Deji Adeyanju as its second witness. Adeyanju told the court that reports of a possible arrest or invitation of el-Rufai by security agencies had been widely discussed before the television interview aired.
According to the witness, he had publicly advised the former governor to cooperate with any investigation and maintained at the time that the matter should not be viewed through a political lens.
During the hearing, prosecutors successfully applied to play the Arise Television footage in open court. After watching the recording, Adeyanju confirmed that it was the same interview granted by el-Rufai on February 13, 2026.
The DSS also submitted a separate video of Adeyanju’s appearance on the same television programme, together with a compliance certificate. Both documents were admitted as exhibits by the court.
In the video, Adeyanju expressed doubt that security agencies intended to arrest el-Rufai, arguing that authorities had previous opportunities to do so if that had been their objective.
The witness further informed the court that he was later invited by the DSS, where he made a statement regarding comments attributed to the former governor about the alleged monitoring of Ribadu’s conversation.
During cross-examination, defence counsel Paul Erokoro questioned Adeyanju on whether el-Rufai explicitly admitted to intercepting any telephone communication. The questioning also explored whether information heard through a speakerphone could be interpreted differently from an illegally intercepted conversation.
Adeyanju responded that he would have no reason to misrepresent events if he had personally heard a discussion being played on speaker. He also declined to offer an opinion on technical issues relating to the alleged hacking of any communication device.
The activist told the court that his appearance as a witness was in compliance with a subpoena issued to him.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the matter until June 23 for the continuation of trial proceedings.
El-Rufai is facing charges related to alleged unauthorised access to a telephone conversation involving Ribadu. He has denied the allegations and previously secured bail in the sum of N100 million after pleading not guilty.
