The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned Nasir El-Rufai, former Governor of Kaduna State Governor, before a Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations that he unlawfully accessed a telephone conversation involving the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
- +Alleged Phone Tapping: DSS slams five count charge on El-Rufai
El-Rufai, who also served as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, is facing a five-count amended charge filed by the DSS, marking an escalation from the initial three counts earlier brought against him.
El-Rufai, who also served as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, is facing a five-count amended charge filed by the DSS, marking an escalation from the initial three counts earlier brought against him.
At the opening of proceedings on Thursday, the prosecution informed the court of the amendment, prompting Joyce Abdulmalik, the presiding judge, to strike out the earlier charge.
The former governor pleaded not guilty to all five counts.
Following his plea, Oluwole Aladeloye, DSS counsel, urged the court to fix a date for trial.
However, Oluwole Iyamu, defence counsel, opposed the request, arguing that he needed time to properly consult with his client, who he said had been held by multiple security agencies.
Iyamu further informed the court that a bail application had already been filed on February 17, alongside a recently submitted further affidavit.
In response, Abdulmalik stated that the said affidavit was not in her case file, raising concerns about procedural compliance.
In a sharp rebuke, the judge criticised the defence for what she described as a lack of due diligence, cautioning against turning the courtroom into a spectacle.
She specifically frowned at what she termed “Nollywood theatrics,” referencing the presence of camera personnel capturing proceedings.
The defence counsel, however, denied inviting any media presence.
Amid the disagreement over the missing affidavit, the court temporarily stood down the matter to allow parties to resolve the filing issue.
The case stems from comments made by El-Rufai in February during an appearance on Prime Time, a programme on Arise Television.
In the interview, he alleged that associates had intercepted a phone conversation involving Ribadu, in which the NSA allegedly directed security operatives to arrest him.
According to El-Rufai, the interception revealed that the government routinely monitors communications without judicial authorisation, adding that “someone tapped” Ribadu’s phone and relayed the contents of the conversation to him.
The claims have since triggered legal action by the DSS.
