A witness for the Department of State Services (DSS) on Monday told a Federal High Court in Abuja that former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, admitted during a television interview that conversations involving the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, were monitored.

The witness, human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju, testified before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik as the second prosecution witness (PW2) in El-Rufai’s ongoing trial over alleged illegal wiretapping.

Adeyanju stated that he appeared on an Arise Television programme on February 16, 2026, the same day El-Rufai granted an interview on the station. According to him, El-Rufai said during the broadcast: “We listened to the conversations of the NSA.”

Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, Adeyanju recalled issuing a public statement after reports emerged that security operatives planned to arrest the former governor.

The prosecution tendered the subpoena used to summon Adeyanju, which was admitted as Exhibit G. The court also viewed the Arise Television interview featuring El-Rufai, after which the witness confirmed the recording and the statements allegedly made during the programme.

Adeyanju’s own television interview, contained in a flash drive alongside a certificate of compliance, was also admitted as Exhibits H and H1.

The witness further told the court that he was later invited by the DSS and asked to recount what transpired during the television programme. He said he informed investigators that El-Rufai made the remarks on air and later explained that another individual allegedly carried out the phone tapping and relayed the information to him.

Under cross-examination by defence counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN), Adeyanju acknowledged that he did not hear El-Rufai specifically state that he personally hacked the NSA’s phone lines. However, he maintained that the former governor said: “We listened to the conversations of the NSA.”

The prosecution also tendered an official gazette, which was admitted without objection from the defence and marked as Exhibit I.

Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the matter until June 23 for the continuation of trial.

El-Rufai is facing a three-count charge bordering on the alleged wiretapping of the NSA’s telephone lines, contrary to provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition) Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.