Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai is facing intensifying legal pressure after National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and ICPC Chairman Musa Aliyu reportedly confirmed the authenticity of a phone conversation at the centre of an alleged wiretapping scandal.
The disclosures surfaced during proceedings before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where a Department of State Services (DSS) witness testified that investigators questioned Ribadu over remarks made by El-Rufai during an interview on Arise Television.
According to the witness, Ribadu confirmed that the conversation referenced by El-Rufai indeed took place between him and the ICPC chairman. Musa Aliyu also reportedly acknowledged the discussion after investigators replayed clips of the interview to him.
Prosecutors told the court that El-Rufai’s comments during the broadcast amounted to an “open confession” and could expose him to serious punishment if convicted. The former governor is standing trial on a five-count charge linked to the alleged unlawful interception of the NSA’s communications under the Cybercrimes Act 2024.
A 43-minute video shown in court allegedly captured El-Rufai admitting that someone intercepted a conversation involving Ribadu and forwarded it to him. He reportedly argued during the interview that governments routinely monitor private communications.
Television anchor Charles Aniagolu also confirmed to investigators that El-Rufai acknowledged receiving the intercepted conversation during the programme.
Statements obtained from Aniagolu, activist-lawyer Deji Adeyanju, and a cameraman involved in the broadcast were admitted by the court as evidence.
El-Rufai, who served as Kaduna governor from 2015 to 2023, has denied all allegations. His lawyers argued that comments made during a television interview cannot be treated as a formal confession and noted that investigators failed to carry out forensic analysis on the NSA’s devices.
The prosecution, however, insisted that further forensic examination became unnecessary once the NSA confirmed the conversation. Investigators also described the alleged interception as a threat to national security.
The court had earlier granted El-Rufai bail of ₦100 million with strict conditions, including the submission of his international passport and mandatory monthly reporting to DSS headquarters.
Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the case until June 22 and June 23 for continuation of trial.
