The DSS indicted El’Rufai for allegedly tapping NSA Ribadu’s phone

The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el’Rufai before the Federal High Court in Abuja for allegedly tapping the phone of National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu.

He was charged with five amended charges including accessing Ribadu’s telephone conversations.

At the start of the hearing on Thursday, prosecutors informed the court that the charges had been changed from three counts to five counts.

As a result, Joyce Abdulmalik, the presiding judge, overturned the previous count.

El-Rufai pleaded not guilty to five amended charges, after which Oluwole Aladeloye, DSS counsel, requested a trial date.

Over objections, Oluwole Iyamu, el-Rufai’s counsel, said he needed to get in touch with his client as he had been detained by several security agencies.

Iyamu told the court that the bail application had been filed on February 17 and a further written statement had been filed recently.

Judge Abdulmalik said a further written statement was not in his case file, and said Iyamu should have exercised due diligence in filing proceedings rather than engaging in a Nollywood theatrics where camera officers were taking pictures in his courtroom.

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The defendant’s attorney said he did not invite camera personnel.

The judge dismissed the matter so that further affidavit matters could be resolved.

In February, during an interview on ‘Prime Time’, an Arise Television program, el-Rufai said “someone tapped” Ribadu’s phone, so he could listen to the NSA’s instructions to security officials to carry out his arrest.

“He made the call because we listened to their call. The government thought they were the only ones who listened to the call, but we also have our own way. He made the call and gave the order,” said el-Rufai.

“Someone tapped his phone. The government always listened to our calls without a court order. Someone tapped his phone and told us that he gave the order,” he said.