JUST IN: DSS Arraigns El-Rufai Over Alleged Phone Interception of Ribadu

JUST IN: DSS Arraigns El-Rufai Over Alleged Phone Interception of Ribadu

The Department of State Services (DSS) has brought former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, before a Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations that he unlawfully accessed a private telephone conversation involving the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

El-Rufai, who also served as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, was arraigned on Thursday on a five-count amended charge bordering on alleged interception of communication.

At the start of proceedings, counsel to the DSS informed the court that the initial three-count charge had been expanded to five, prompting the presiding judge, Joyce Abdulmalik, to strike out the earlier charges.

The former governor pleaded not guilty to all counts.

Following his plea, prosecution counsel, Oluwole Aladeloye, urged the court to fix dates for trial. However, defence counsel, Oluwole Iyamu, objected, citing the need to confer with his client, whom he said had been in the custody of multiple security agencies.

Iyamu also drew attention to a pending bail application filed earlier in February, along with a further affidavit he claimed had been submitted recently.

But Justice Abdulmalik noted that the additional affidavit was not before the court, advising the defence to ensure proper filing rather than engaging in what she described as “Nollywood theatrics” involving camera personnel in the courtroom.

The defence lawyer denied inviting any media presence.

The court subsequently stood down the matter to allow time for clarification on the filing of the affidavit.

The case stems from comments attributed to El-Rufai during a February appearance on a television programme, where he alleged that he had access to a phone conversation in which Ribadu purportedly directed security operatives to arrest him.

“He made the call because we listened to their calls… The government thinks they are the only ones that listen to calls but we also have our ways,” El-Rufai had said during the interview, adding that the information was obtained through a third party who allegedly intercepted the communication.

The trial is expected to continue after procedural issues surrounding the bail application are resolved.