A lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, who testified as the second prosecution witness in the trial of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the ex-governor allegedly admitted during a television interview that “we listened to the conversation of the NSA.”
El-Rufai is standing trial over allegations of illegal phone interception involving the National Security Adviser and breaches of national security.
Testifying under examination by prosecution counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, Adeyanju confirmed his familiarity with the former governor and recalled issuing a public statement after reports surfaced that El-Rufai was being considered for arrest by security agencies.
The prosecution tendered the subpoena used to compel Adeyanju’s appearance in court, which was admitted as Exhibit G.
The court also reviewed the televised interview involving El-Rufai, after which Adeyanju affirmed the recording and the statements attributed to the former governor.
In addition, the prosecution submitted a flash drive containing Adeyanju’s own interview, along with a certificate of compliance. Both were admitted in evidence as Exhibits H and H1.
Adeyanju told the court that he was later invited by the Department of State Services (DSS), where he was questioned about the television appearance. He said he confirmed to investigators that he was present when El-Rufai made the comments on air, adding that the former governor also suggested during the interview that someone had intercepted the NSA’s phone conversations and relayed the information to him.
Under cross-examination by defence counsel Paul Erokoro, Adeyanju said he did not hear El-Rufai specifically claim that he hacked the NSA’s phone lines but recalled him saying, “we listened to the conversation of the NSA.”
When asked about the technical means through which the NSA’s communications are made or whether investigators verified the devices allegedly compromised, Adeyanju replied that such matters were not within his purview.
The prosecution also tendered an official gazette without objection from the defence, and it was admitted as Exhibit I.
The case was adjourned until June 23 for continuation of trial.
