El-Rufai Risks Jail Term as ICPC, NSA Confirms Wiretapping Conversations

The trial of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on allegations of treason and national security violations continued on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

During the proceedings, a prosecution witness informed the court that the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission confirmed the authenticity of a conversation allegedly mentioned by El-Rufai in a televised interview.

The prosecution presented a 43-minute interview aired on Arise Television, where El-Rufai allegedly stated that a private discussion involving Ribadu had been intercepted and later sent to him.

The Federal Government, acting through the Department of State Services, accused the former governor of illegally intercepting communications in violation of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024. He is currently facing an amended five-count charge linked to alleged unlawful surveillance activities and threats to national security.

According to the witness, investigators later questioned Ribadu, who reportedly acknowledged that the conversation referenced during the interview had indeed occurred between him and the ICPC chairman. The anti-corruption agency’s chairman also reportedly confirmed the discussion after parts of the interview were replayed before him.

In the broadcast shown in court, El-Rufai allegedly defended the interception claim by arguing that governments commonly monitor communications.

The prosecution further disclosed that the programme host, Charles Aniagolu, activist-lawyer Deji Adeyanju, and an Arise TV cameraman were questioned during the investigation.

Investigators said Aniagolu confirmed that El-Rufai admitted someone intercepted the conversation and forwarded it to him while insisting such surveillance practices were normal for governments. Statements obtained from Aniagolu and Adeyanju were admitted into evidence as Exhibits C, C1, and E without objection from the defence.

Another statement from cameraman Ugochukwu Agalayana was admitted as Exhibit D after he confirmed setting up the recording equipment used during the interview, though he stated he paid little attention to the discussion itself.

The prosecution witness said investigators concluded that El-Rufai effectively made an “open confession” regarding the alleged interception and that the act was considered capable of threatening national security, leading to the recommendation for prosecution. A preliminary investigation report was also admitted as Exhibit F.

Under cross-examination by defence counsel, Chief Paul Erokoro (SAN), the witness acknowledged that investigators neither examined devices belonging to Ribadu nor conducted forensic analysis, IP tracing, or technical investigations concerning the alleged interception.

Despite this, the witness maintained that such procedures became unnecessary after Ribadu allegedly confirmed the authenticity of the conversation referenced in the interview. He also admitted that El-Rufai never directly claimed he personally intercepted the communication.

The witness, however, insisted that the former governor repeatedly stood by the assertion that the conversation had been tapped and forwarded to him.

When asked whether El-Rufai might simply have been making political remarks during a heated television appearance, the witness responded that he regarded the former governor as a man of integrity and believed his statements were genuine.

Following the conclusion of cross-examination, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjourned the matter until June 22 and 23 for further hearing.