NSA Phone-Tapping Case: Adeyanju calls El-Rufai’s legal troubles ‘Karma’

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 filed against him by the State Security Service, SSS, continued.

The interview was replayed during the testimony of human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, who appeared before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik as the second prosecution witness.

Mr Adeyanju told the court that the recording accurately reflected what transpired during the February 13 edition of an Arise Television programme in which Mr El-Rufai made remarks suggesting that a telephone conversation involving the National Security Adviser, NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, had been intercepted.

Recalling events preceding the interview, Mr Adeyanju said reports had emerged on February 12 alleging that Mr El-Rufai could 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 issue did not appear politically motivated.

“I went to Arise, and El-Rufai was also on the programme. My segment came after his. During his interview, I listened to him speak on several issues and challenged many of his claims because I believed they were either untrue or half-truths,” Mr Adeyanju told the court.

The witness said he was later invited by the SSS, where he made a statement regarding the interview.

“I confirmed that El-Rufai said someone had tapped a call and provided him with information. I documented everything in my statement,” he said.

At the request of the prosecution, the court replayed the interview, which had earlier been tendered through the first prosecution witness.

After watching the recording, Mr Adeyanju affirmed that it accurately represented what he witnessed during the live broadcast.

Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye (SAN), Mr Adeyanju tendered the subpoena compelling his appearance in court. The document was admitted and marked as Exhibit G after defence counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN), raised no objection.

The prosecution also tendered a flash drive containing Adeyanju’s interview on the programme, along with a certificate of compliance. Both were admitted as Exhibits H and H1.

In the recorded interview played in court, Adeyanju argued that if the government had intended to arrest El-Rufai, the SSS would likely have done so upon his arrival at the airport.

He also referenced reports that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, was investigating the former governor and maintained that any prosecution should follow the conclusion of such investigations.

Mr Adeyanju further described Mr El-Rufai as an “ardent violator of human rights,” characterising his current legal challenges as “karma.”

During cross-examination, Mr Erokoro asked whether Mr El-Rufai had explicitly stated during the interview that he personally tapped a telephone conversation.

Responding, Mr Adeyanju said the former governor had stated: “We listened to their calls.”

He added that if someone informed him that a telephone conversation had been hacked or intercepted, he would report the matter because he would not know how such an act was carried out.

The witness, however, acknowledged that he had no knowledge of the manner in which the NSA conducted his telephone conversations and stressed that his appearance in court was solely in compliance with a subpoena.

Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned proceedings until June 23 for the continuation of the trial.

The SSS filed a five-count charge against Mr El-Rufai in February after he alleged during the Arise Television interview that he had intercepted a telephone conversation involving Ribadu, which purportedly revealed plans by security operatives to arrest him.

Mr El-Rufai was arraigned on April 23, pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail in the sum of N100 million.