A human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, on Monday appeared before the Federal High Court in Abuja to testify in the ongoing trial of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who is facing allegations relating to breach of national security.
Adeyanju testified as the second prosecution witness (PW-2) before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, with Department of State Services (DSS) counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN, leading him in evidence.
The case, filed by the DSS, stems from comments allegedly made by El-Rufai during a televised interview in which he claimed he intercepted a phone conversation involving the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and alleged that security operatives were instructed to arrest him.
El-Rufai further linked the alleged incident to events at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on February 12, following his return from Cairo, Egypt.
When proceedings resumed, Adeyanju presented the subpoena through which he was summoned to court, after which the prosecution applied to tender it as evidence. With no objection from the defence team led by Paul Erokoro, SAN, the document was admitted and marked as Exhibit G.
In his testimony, Adeyanju recalled that reports had circulated on February 12 suggesting that El-Rufai might be arrested or invited by security agencies. He said he had earlier advised the former governor to submit himself for investigation, maintaining that the matter was not politically driven.
He told the court that he appeared on a television programme on February 13, the same day El-Rufai also featured on the show, where he responded to comments made by the former governor during the broadcast.
According to him, he challenged several claims made by El-Rufai during the interview, which he described as inaccurate or misleading.
The prosecution subsequently requested that the court replay the recorded interview involving El-Rufai. The application was granted, and the video was shown in court, after which Adeyanju confirmed it reflected what transpired during the programme.
The court also admitted a flash drive containing Adeyanju’s own interview on the same programme, along with a certificate of compliance, which were marked as Exhibits H and H1, following no objection from the defence.
In the recorded interview played in court, Adeyanju stated that if authorities had intended to arrest El-Rufai, it would have likely occurred at the airport. He also referenced claims that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) was already investigating the former governor at the time.
He further expressed doubt that an airport arrest was likely, noting that security operatives had instead engaged him upon arrival, which he said suggested he was already under watch.
Adeyanju also maintained that he believed El-Rufai should face investigation over alleged corruption, insisting that such processes were necessary before any prosecution.
He, however, clarified that he had no personal knowledge of any alleged phone tapping or interception of communications, stating that his comments were based on information available to him at the time.
During cross-examination, defence counsel Erokoro questioned him on his understanding of El-Rufai’s statements regarding intercepted communications. Adeyanju responded that he interpreted the remarks as suggesting that calls were “listened to.”
The defence further argued that hearing a conversation on speakerphone does not amount to phone tapping, a position partially contested by the prosecution, which cited provisions of the Evidence Act to justify certain lines of questioning.
Adeyanju maintained that he had no personal knowledge of any alleged hacking or interception of communications and said he could not speculate on technical details beyond what was presented to him.
He also told the court that he was only present as a witness after being formally summoned.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the case to June 23 for continuation of hearing.