The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over allegations of unlawfully accessing the telephone conversation of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
El-Rufai was brought before a Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday on a five-count amended charge bordering on alleged unlawful interception and related offences.
At the commencement of proceedings, the prosecution informed the court that the initial three-count charge had been amended to five counts. Consequently, the presiding judge, Joyce Abdulmalik, struck out the earlier charges.
The former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) pleaded not guilty to all five counts.
Background
The charges stem from comments made by El-Rufai in February during an appearance on Prime Time, a programme on Arise Television.
During the interview, the former governor claimed that associates had access to a wiretapped conversation involving Ribadu, in which the NSA allegedly 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.
He further alleged that Ribadu’s phone was tapped without a court order and that information from the intercepted communication was relayed to him.
The DSS subsequently initiated legal action, accusing El-Rufai of engaging in unlawful interception of communication, an allegation now before the court.
The case was adjourned for further proceedings.
