The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday replayed an interview granted by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in the ongoing trial over allegations that he claimed to have intercepted a telephone conversation involving National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
Human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, who testified as the second prosecution witness before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, told the court that the video accurately captured events during the February 13 edition of an Arise Television programme where El-Rufai made the remarks.
Adeyanju said reports had surfaced on February 12 suggesting that El-Rufai could be arrested or invited by security agencies after returning from Cairo, Egypt. He said he had publicly advised the former governor to honour any invitation from security agencies, maintaining at the time that the matter was not 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 I countered many of his claims because they were either untrue or half-truths,” Adeyanju told the court.
He further testified that he was later invited by the State Security Service (SSS), where he made a statement concerning the interview.
“I confirmed that El-Rufai said someone tapped and gave him the information. I put all that into writing,” he said.
At the prosecution’s request, the court replayed the interview, which had earlier been tendered during the testimony of the first prosecution witness. After viewing the recording, Adeyanju affirmed that it accurately reflected what transpired during the programme.
Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye (SAN), Adeyanju also tendered the subpoena summoning him to testify. The document was admitted and marked as Exhibit G after defence counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN), raised no objection.
The prosecution subsequently tendered a recording of Adeyanju’s own interview on the programme alongside a certificate of compliance. Both were admitted as Exhibits H and H1.
In the recorded interview, Adeyanju stated that if the government had intended to arrest El-Rufai, the SSS would have apprehended him at the airport upon his arrival in Nigeria.
He also referenced reports that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) was investigating the former governor, insisting that El-Rufai should be investigated for alleged corruption and prosecuted if sufficient evidence emerged.
Adeyanju further described El-Rufai as an “ardent violator of human rights” and said the former governor’s current predicament amounted to “karma.”
During cross-examination, Erokoro asked whether he heard El-Rufai expressly state that he personally tapped a telephone conversation.
In response, Adeyanju said El-Rufai had stated: “We listened to their calls.”
He added that if anyone claimed to have hacked a phone call, he would report the matter because he did not know how such an act could be carried out.
The witness, however, said he had no knowledge of whether the NSA conducted telephone conversations in a manner that could allow others to listen in and stressed that he appeared in court solely because he was summoned.
Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter until June 23 for continuation of the trial.
The SSS filed a five-count charge against El-Rufai in February after he claimed during the Arise Television interview that he had intercepted a telephone conversation involving Ribadu, which allegedly revealed plans by security operatives to arrest him.
El-Rufai was arraigned on April 23, pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail in the sum of N100 million.
(The Whistler)
