The trial of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai over alleged treason and breach of national security resumed on Monday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, with a prosecution witness claiming that the National Security Adviser confirmed the authenticity of a conversation referenced by the defendant.
According to proceedings reported by Channels Television, prosecutors played a 43-minute television interview in which El-Rufai allegedly stated that a private conversation involving the National Security Adviser had been wiretapped and forwarded to him.
The witness told the court that investigators later interviewed Nuhu Ribadu, who verbally confirmed that the conversation referenced by El-Rufai took place between him and the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
The witness added that the ICPC chairman also confirmed having the conversation after investigators played excerpts from the interview.
During the broadcast, El-Rufai was said to have defended the alleged interception, arguing that governments routinely monitor communications.
The prosecution also presented statements from television anchor Charles Aniagolu, activist-lawyer Deji Adeyanju and cameraman Ugochukwu Agalayana. The court admitted the statements as exhibits without objection from the defence.
According to the witness, Aniagolu confirmed that El-Rufai admitted during the interview that someone intercepted the conversation and sent it to him. Agalayana, however, reportedly told investigators he only handled technical setup during the interview and did not pay attention to the discussion.
The prosecution argued that El-Rufai made what investigators described as an “open confession” regarding the interception of the NSA’s conversation. A preliminary investigation report was also admitted as evidence.
Under cross-examination, defence counsel Paul Erokoro questioned the absence of forensic analysis, device examination or IP tracing linked to the alleged interception.
The prosecution witness acknowledged that investigators did not examine the NSA’s communication devices or conduct forensic checks, but insisted those measures became unnecessary after the NSA allegedly confirmed the conversation’s authenticity.
The witness also admitted that El-Rufai never claimed he personally carried out the interception. However, he maintained that the former governor repeatedly stood by the claim that the conversation had been tapped and shared with him.
When asked whether El-Rufai could have been exaggerating during a politically charged interview, the witness replied that he regarded the former governor “a person of integrity” and believed his statements were genuine.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the case until June 22 and 23 for further hearing.
