A prosecution witness in the trial of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has told a Federal High Court in Abuja that the former governor admitted during a television interview that conversations involving the National Security Adviser were monitored.

The witness, lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju, testified before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik on Monday as the second prosecution witness in the case instituted by the Department of State Services.

El-Rufai is facing trial over allegations that he was involved in the wiretapping of the telephone lines of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

During his testimony, Adeyanju stated that he watched El-Rufai’s appearance on an Arise Television programme on February 16, during which the former governor allegedly made remarks suggesting that conversations involving the NSA had been monitored.

According to the witness, El-Rufai stated during the interview that “we listened to the conversations of the NSA.”

Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, Adeyanju confirmed that he knew El-Rufai as a former governor of Kaduna State and recalled issuing a public statement after reports emerged that security agencies were planning to arrest the former governor.

The prosecution tendered a subpoena used to summon the witness, which was admitted by the court as evidence.

The court also viewed a recording of the television interview involving El-Rufai. Following the viewing, Adeyanju confirmed the authenticity of the recording and the statements allegedly made during the programme.

In addition, the prosecution tendered a flash drive containing Adeyanju’s own interview, alongside a certificate of compliance. Both were admitted as exhibits by the court.

Adeyanju further told the court that he was later invited by the DSS, where investigators requested details of what transpired during the television interview.

He said he informed investigators that he was present when El-Rufai made the remarks and that, when questioned further during the programme, the former governor allegedly stated that another individual carried out the phone monitoring and relayed the information to him.

Under cross-examination by defence counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN), the witness clarified that he did not hear El-Rufai specifically say he personally hacked the NSA’s phone lines. However, he maintained that he heard him say that “we listened to the conversations of the NSA.”

When questioned about whether he knew the communication devices allegedly used by the NSA or whether investigators had examined them, Adeyanju responded that such matters were outside his knowledge and responsibility.

The prosecution also tendered an official gazette, which was admitted into evidence without objection from the defence.

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

El-Rufai is facing a three-count charge bordering on the alleged unlawful interception of communications. Prosecutors claim the alleged actions contravened provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act and the Nigerian Communications Act.

The former governor has denied wrongdoing, and the trial continues.