El-Rufai Returns To Court As Witness Testifies In Alleged Phone-Tapping Trial

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai on Monday appeared before the Federal High Court in Abuja as proceedings continued in the alleged phone-tapping case instituted against him by the Department of State Services (DSS).

During the hearing, lawyer and public affairs commentator Deji Adeyanju testified as the second prosecution witness before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.

Adeyanju told the court that a video recording played during the proceedings accurately reflected what he witnessed during a February 13 programme in which El-Rufai made claims about intercepting a telephone conversation involving National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu.

While giving evidence, Adeyanju identified El-Rufai as “a very popular politician and former governor of Kaduna State.”

The DSS filed charges against El-Rufai in February after he stated during an interview on Arise Television that he had listened to a phone conversation involving Ribadu.

According to El-Rufai, the NSA directed security operatives to arrest him. He linked the alleged directive to an incident at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on February 12 following his return from Cairo, Egypt.

The trial continues.