During the resumed hearing, the prosecution presented materials it said supported claims that the former governor received an intercepted private conversation involving the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.

The prosecution also played a 43-minute television interview in court, where El-Rufai was alleged to have stated that a wiretapped conversation involving the NSA was sent to him by an unidentified source.

In the interview, the former governor was also said to have defended the interception, suggesting that monitoring of communications is a common practice by governments.

Witness Testimony On NSA Conversation

A prosecution witness told the court that investigators verified the contents of the broadcast after it aired.

According to the witness, the National Security Adviser was questioned by investigators and verbally confirmed that the conversation referenced by El-Rufai did take place.

The witness said the discussion was between the NSA and the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

He further told the court that the ICPC chairman also confirmed the conversation after relevant sections of the interview were shown to him.

The court heard that broadcaster Charles Aniagolu, activist-lawyer Deji Adeyanju, and a cameraman were invited for questioning during the investigation.

Aniagolu was said to have confirmed that El-Rufai admitted during the interview that the conversation had been intercepted and shared with him.

He also allegedly confirmed that El-Rufai maintained that surveillance by government agencies is a routine practice.

Statements obtained from Aniagolu and Adeyanju were tendered and admitted in evidence as Exhibits C, C1 and E without objection from the defence.

A statement from cameraman Ugochukwu Agalayana was also submitted and admitted as Exhibit D after he confirmed setting up equipment for the interview, though he said he did not follow the discussion.

The prosecution witness said investigators concluded that El-Rufai’s comments amounted to what they described as an “open confession” regarding interception of the NSA’s communication.

He added that the alleged act was considered a threat to national security, leading to the recommendation for prosecution.

A preliminary investigation report was also admitted in evidence as Exhibit F.

Cross-Examination And Defence Challenge

During cross-examination, El-Rufai’s counsel, Paul Erokoro, questioned the depth of the investigation.

The witness admitted that investigators did not examine any of the NSA’s communication devices.

He also confirmed that no IP address tracking or forensic analysis of the alleged interception was carried out.

However, he argued that such steps were unnecessary since the NSA had allegedly confirmed that the conversation took place.

The witness further agreed that El-Rufai did not explicitly claim he personally intercepted the call, but insisted the former governor maintained that the conversation was intercepted and passed to him.

When asked whether El-Rufai could have been exaggerating during a television interview, the witness said he considered the former governor “a person of integrity” and believed his statements were made in earnest.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjourned the matter to June 22 and 23 for continuation of hearing and the presentation of additional witnesses.

El-Rufai continues to face allegations of treason and breach of national security, which he is expected to challenge as proceedings continue.