Activist and legal practitioner Deji Adeyanju provided testimony at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday regarding the national security case involving former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai. Appearing as the second witness for the prosecution under a court-ordered subpoena, Adeyanju addressed statements made by El-Rufai during a television appearance.
The case, brought by the Department of State Security, centers on claims by the former governor that he intercepted a private discussion involving National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu. El-Rufai alleged that this conversation included instructions to detain him upon his arrival from Egypt on February 12. During his testimony, Adeyanju recounted his own appearance on the same television program shortly after El-Rufai, noting that he had challenged the former governor’s narrative as inaccurate.
The court reviewed video evidence, including a recorded segment of Adeyanju, which was entered into the record as an exhibit. Adeyanju testified that security personnel meeting El-Rufai at the airport was standard procedure for those on a watchlist rather than a targeted political arrest. He further suggested that the former governor’s history of handling political opponents during his time in office should be considered in the context of his current claims.
Under questioning from the defense, Adeyanju confirmed he heard El-Rufai explicitly state, “We listened to their calls.” He clarified that he only testified because he was legally compelled to do so by the subpoena. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik has moved the trial to June 23 for further proceedings.
