El-Rufai Admits to Wiretapping NSA in Court Testimony

In a trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja, Deji Adeyanju, a witness for the Department of State Services (DSS), confirmed that former Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai admitted to wiretapping the phone of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu during a televised interview on February 13, 2026. Adeyanju testified that El-Rufai made this confession while appearing on Aris TV, stating that he unlawfully intercepted communications without reporting it to relevant security agencies.

The prosecution, led by counsel Oluwol Aladedoy, presented evidence including a subpoena and a flash drive containing Adeyanju's interview. The court also received an official gazette related to the case.

The charges against El-Rufai include three counts of violating the Cybercrime Prohibition Act of 2024. The trial has been adjourned until June 23, 2026.