The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned former Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, before a federal high court in Abuja over allegations of illegally accessing the telephone conversation of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
El-Rufai, who also served as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), is facing a five-count amended charge filed by the DSS. At Thursday’s proceedings, the prosecution informed the court that the charges had been expanded from three to five counts. Consequently, the presiding judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, struck out the earlier charge.
The former governor pleaded not guilty to all five counts.
Bail Application Delayed
Following his plea, counsel to the DSS, Oluwole Aladeloye, urged the court to fix dates for trial. However, defence counsel, Oluwole Iyamu, objected, stating that he needed time to confer with his client, who he said had been in the custody of multiple security agencies.
Iyamu further told the court that a bail application had already been filed on February 17, along with a recently submitted further affidavit. In response, Justice Abdulmalik said the additional affidavit was not in her court file, noting that the defence should have ensured proper filing.
The judge also criticised what she described as “Nollywood theatrics” in the courtroom, referencing the presence of camera personnel. Iyamu denied inviting any media coverage.
The court subsequently stood down the matter to allow time for the filing issue to be resolved.
Background to the Case
The charges stem from comments made by el-Rufai during a February interview on Prime Time, a programme on Arise Television. In the interview, he alleged that Ribadu’s phone had been wiretapped, enabling him and others to listen to conversations in which the NSA allegedly directed security operatives to arrest him.
“El-Rufai had claimed that while the government routinely monitors communications without court orders, others also possess the means to do the same,” the prosecution said, citing the remarks as part of its case.
The matter is expected to resume after the court resolves issues surrounding the defence’s additional affidavit and bail application.