The trial of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over allegations bordering on treason and breach of national security resumed on Monday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, with the prosecution presenting evidence aimed at supporting claims that he received an intercepted private conversation involving the National Security Adviser (NSA).
During the proceedings, prosecutors played a 43-minute television interview featuring El-Rufai, where he was alleged to have disclosed that an individual wiretapped a conversation involving the NSA and subsequently forwarded the recording to him.
According to the prosecution, El-Rufai also defended the act during the interview, maintaining that governments across the world regularly monitor communications as part of intelligence operations.
A prosecution witness informed the court that investigators later interviewed the National Security Adviser, who verbally 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 further stated that the ICPC Chairman also acknowledged having the conversation with the NSA after investigators played portions of the interview before him.
As part of the investigation, television anchor Charles Aniagolu, activist-lawyer Deji Adeyanju, and cameraman Ugochukwu Agalayana were invited for questioning.
Aniagolu reportedly confirmed that El-Rufai stated during the interview that an intercepted conversation had been passed on to him and also reiterated his position that governments frequently engage in such practices.
The prosecution subsequently tendered statements obtained from Aniagolu and Adeyanju, which the court admitted as Exhibits C, C1, and E without objection from the defence team.
Additionally, a statement from cameraman Ugochukwu Agalayana was admitted as Exhibit D after he confirmed setting up the equipment used during the interview. However, he noted that he paid little attention to the details of the discussion.
The prosecution witness further testified that investigators concluded El-Rufai had made what they described as an “open confession” during the televised interview concerning the interception of the NSA’s conversation.
According to the witness, the investigative team considered the alleged act capable of threatening national security and subsequently recommended legal action against the former governor. A preliminary investigation report submitted by the prosecution was admitted by the court as Exhibit F.
During cross-examination by defence counsel, Paul Erokoro, the witness admitted that investigators neither examined communication devices belonging to the NSA nor obtained IP addresses or conducted any forensic analysis relating to the alleged interception.
However, the witness insisted that such procedures were considered unnecessary after the NSA reportedly confirmed the authenticity of the conversation referenced during the interview.
The witness also agreed that El-Rufai never directly claimed responsibility for personally intercepting the communication. Nonetheless, he maintained that the former governor consistently stood by the claim that the conversation had been tapped and forwarded to him.
When questioned on whether El-Rufai could have merely been making exaggerated remarks during a politically charged interview, the witness replied that he regarded the former governor as “a person of integrity” and believed his comments reflected his true position.
Following the completion of the cross-examination of the prosecution’s first witness, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjourned further hearing in the case until June 22 and 23.
El-Rufai Treason Trial Continues as Prosecution Presents Evidence on Alleged Intercepted NSA Conversation
