The trial of former Kaduna State governor Nasir el-Rufai over allegations of treason and breach of national security continued on Monday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, with the prosecution presenting evidence linked to an alleged intercepted conversation involving the National Security Adviser.
During proceedings, prosecutors played a 43-minute television interview in which El-Rufai allegedly stated that someone had wiretapped a private conversation involving Nuhu Ribadu and forwarded it to him. According to the prosecution, the former governor also defended the alleged interception during the interview, arguing that governments routinely monitor communications.
A prosecution witness told the court that investigators later interviewed Ribadu, who reportedly confirmed that the conversation referenced by El-Rufai had indeed taken 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 the discussion after portions of the interview were played to him. According to the prosecution, the programme anchor Charles Aniagolu, activist-lawyer Deji Adeyanju and cameraman Ugochukwu Agalayana were later invited for questioning.
Aniagolu reportedly confirmed that El-Rufai admitted during the interview that someone intercepted the conversation and passed it to him while also maintaining that governments regularly engage in such practices. Statements obtained from Aniagolu and Adeyanju were tendered by the prosecution and admitted into evidence as Exhibits C, C1 and E without objection from the defence.
Another statement from Agalayana was admitted as Exhibit D after the cameraman confirmed setting up the equipment used during the interview, although he said he did not pay attention to the actual discussion. The prosecution witness told the court that investigators concluded El-Rufai made what they described as an “open confession” regarding the interception of the NSA’s conversation during the interview.
According to the witness, the investigation team believed the alleged act was capable of undermining national security and subsequently recommended prosecution. A preliminary investigation report tendered by the prosecution was also admitted into evidence as Exhibit F.
Under cross-examination by defence lawyer Paul Erokoro, the witness admitted that investigators did not examine any communication devices belonging to the NSA, obtain IP addresses or carry out forensic analysis relating to the alleged interception.
However, the witness insisted those steps became unnecessary after Ribadu reportedly confirmed the authenticity of the conversation referenced during the interview.
The witness also acknowledged that El-Rufai never specifically claimed to have personally carried out the interception but maintained that the former governor repeatedly stood by the assertion that the conversation had been tapped and forwarded to him.
When asked whether El-Rufai may simply have been exaggerating during a politically charged television appearance, the witness said he considered the former governor “a person of integrity” and believed he meant what he said during the broadcast.
Following the conclusion of the cross-examination of the first prosecution witness, presiding judge Joyce Abdulmalik adjourned further hearing in the matter until June 22 and 23.
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