DSS Witness Tells Court El-Rufai Admitted Listening to NSA’s Conversations During TV Interview

The trial of former Kaduna State Governor, , over allegations of unlawfully intercepting the communications of the National Security Adviser (NSA), continued on Monday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, with a prosecution witness testifying that the former governor publicly admitted listening to the NSA’s conversations during a television interview.

The witness, human rights lawyer and activist , appeared as the second prosecution witness in the case instituted by the Department of State Services (DSS).

While being led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, Adeyanju told the court that he participated in an interview on Arise News on February 16, 2026, the same day El-Rufai appeared on the station and made statements that later became the subject of investigation.

According to Adeyanju, El-Rufai stated during the interview that “we listened to the conversations of the NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.”

The witness said he knew El-Rufai as a former governor of Kaduna State and recalled issuing a public statement after reports emerged that security agencies planned to arrest the former governor.

During proceedings, the prosecution tendered the subpoena used to summon Adeyanju, which was admitted in evidence and marked as Exhibit G.

The court also viewed the Arise News interview in open court. Subsequently, a flash drive containing Adeyanju’s interview, along with a certificate of compliance, was tendered and admitted as exhibits.

Adeyanju further testified that he was later invited by the DSS and asked to provide an account of what transpired during the television programme.

He told investigators that he was present when El-Rufai made the statements on air and that, when pressed further during the interview, the former governor allegedly stated that another individual carried out the interception and relayed the information to him.

However, under cross-examination by defence counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN), Adeyanju clarified that he did not hear El-Rufai specifically admit to hacking the National Security Adviser’s telephone lines.

“I heard him say, ‘we listened to the conversations of the NSA,'” Adeyanju told the court.

When asked whether he knew the communication devices used by the NSA or whether investigators had established which specific device was allegedly compromised, the witness responded that such matters were outside his knowledge and responsibility.

Justice adjourned the matter until June 23, 2026, for continuation of trial.

The DSS had filed a three-count charge against El-Rufai, accusing him of offences relating to the alleged interception of the communications of the National Security Adviser, .

In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, the secret police alleged that El-Rufai violated provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.

The prosecution alleges that the former governor admitted during a television interview on February 13, 2026, that he and others unlawfully intercepted the communications of the NSA, an act it says contravenes Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes Act.

The DSS further accused El-Rufai of failing to report individuals allegedly involved in the interception of the communications, contrary to Section 27(b) of the Act.

In the third count, the prosecution alleged that El-Rufai and others still at large used technical equipment or systems to unlawfully intercept the NSA’s communications in a manner that compromised national security and public safety, contrary to Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act.

El-Rufai has denied wrongdoing, and the court is expected to continue hearing evidence in the matter when proceedings resume on Tuesday.