El-Rufai Denies Wrongdoing As DSS Presents TV Interview In Court

The trial of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, took a dramatic turn on Monday after a witness from the Department of State Services (DSS) told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the agency uncovered alleged illegal phone interception involving the former governor through a television interview aired on Arise Television.

The witness, whose identity was concealed for security reasons and identified only as “APC,” appeared before the court as the first prosecution witness in the high-profile case involving alleged unlawful interception of phone conversations linked to National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu.

Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye (SAN), the DSS operative told the court that the agency had prior intelligence indicating that El-Rufai would appear on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme.

According to the witness, DSS operatives monitored the interview closely and later concluded that certain remarks made by the former governor amounted to a confessional statement.

“My Lord, the service got information that the defendant would appear on Arise TV Prime Time Show,” the witness said.

He explained that after watching the programme, he immediately briefed senior officials of the DSS.

“I told them that there was a confessional statement where the defendant said he tapped the conversation of the National Security Adviser,” the operative added.

The court heard that the DSS subsequently copied the interview into a flash drive and preserved it as part of the prosecution’s evidence in the case.

The prosecution later tendered the flash drive and a certificate of compliance before the court. Counsel to El-Rufai, Paul Erokoro (SAN), did not object to the admissibility of the materials.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik thereafter admitted both items as exhibits.

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Following the ruling, the prosecution applied for the interview video to be played openly in court, a request that was granted by the judge.

El-Rufai, dressed in a blue agbada, watched the footage from the dock alongside members of his legal team and other observers present in court.

During the interview played in court, the former governor spoke extensively about an alleged encounter with DSS operatives at the Abuja airport after returning from Egypt.

According to El-Rufai, security officials approached him at the airport and attempted to compel him to accompany them without presenting any formal invitation or official document.

“I came out of the plane and a young man came to me and said, ‘I am SSS and they would want to meet with me in our office,’” El-Rufai said in the recorded interview.

The former governor further alleged during the broadcast that the operation against him was ordered by the National Security Adviser.

According to him, information about the alleged directive was obtained through intercepted phone conversations.

“We listened to their calls, someone tapped the phone conversation and told us that he gave the order,” El-Rufai stated in the interview shown in court.

That statement immediately became one of the major issues raised by the prosecution in the ongoing trial.

The DSS is prosecuting El-Rufai on an amended five-count charge bordering on alleged unlawful interception of communications, breach of national security protocols, and offences connected to provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024 and the Nigerian Communications Act.

The prosecution alleged that the former governor unlawfully interfered with communications classified as part of Nigeria’s Critical National Information Infrastructure.

During the proceedings, El-Rufai also accused security agencies of being used against him for political purposes.

He claimed he was being targeted because of political alignments linked to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term ambitions.

The former governor insisted he had nothing to hide and challenged anyone to produce evidence that he stole public funds during his time in office.

Proceedings were briefly interrupted after the audio quality of the video deteriorated during playback.

Following the technical issue, the prosecution requested additional time to produce a clearer version of the recording, a move the defence did not oppose.

Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the matter for continuation of hearing.

Earlier, the court granted El-Rufai bail in the sum of N100 million with one surety in like sum.

The judge ruled that the surety must be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 17 and must own landed property in either Maitama or Asokoro, Abuja.

The court also ordered the former governor to surrender all international passports and report monthly to the DSS headquarters pending the determination of the case.

Justice Abdulmalik further approved the prosecution’s request for DSS witnesses to testify under protection throughout the trial.

The court equally dismissed objections raised by the defence challenging the amended charges and granted accelerated hearing in the matter.

El-Rufai Denies Wrongdoing As DSS Presents TV Interview In Court

ICPC Denies Blocking El-Rufai From Receiving Food, Medical Care In Detention

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has dismissed allegations that former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, was denied access to food, family members, and medical care while in detention.

The anti-graft agency described the claims as “false and misleading,” insisting that the former governor has continued to receive medical attention and family visits in line with the commission’s detention protocols.

The controversy followed allegations by Mohammed Bello, the lawmaker representing Kaduna North Federal Constituency and son of the former governor, who accused the ICPC of violating his father’s fundamental human rights.

Bello claimed that officials of the commission prevented El-Rufai’s wife from delivering food to him and also blocked his personal doctor from seeing him to discuss the outcome of recent medical examinations.

According to the lawmaker, the doctor was allegedly informed that written approval from the ICPC chairman was required before access could be granted.

However, speaking during a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, ICPC spokesperson, Okor Odey, rejected the allegations and maintained that the commission had acted within established procedures.

Odey explained that the agency operates an access-control policy that allows visitors into the detention facility between 9:00am and 6:30pm daily.

According to him, El-Rufai’s wife arrived at the facility around 7:00pm, after official visiting hours had closed.

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“The families of all defendants and suspects in ICPC custody, including the family in question, were duly informed of this protocol and have, until this incident, been in compliance,” Odey said.

He disclosed that one of El-Rufai’s wives and a housemaid had earlier delivered food to the former governor at least three times between 10:30am and 5:30pm on the same day.

The ICPC spokesman also said the commission maintains a visitors’ register containing details of all approved visits, including family members, legal representatives, and medical personnel.

Addressing allegations that El-Rufai’s doctor was denied entry, Odey said the medical personnel were only subjected to standard security and identification procedures before being granted supervised access.

“It is a standard security procedure,” he stated.

Odey further revealed that the former Kaduna governor had recently been allowed to visit both his dentist and eye doctor under ICPC escort.

He added that El-Rufai also has access to in-house medical personnel within the commission whenever necessary.

The ICPC stressed that the former governor’s detention was not politically motivated, noting that he remained in custody because he had yet to meet the bail conditions earlier granted by the court.

El-Rufai has been in the custody of the ICPC since February 19 over alleged financial impropriety linked to his administration as Kaduna State governor between 2015 and 2023.

The former governor was arraigned before the Kaduna State High Court on April 13 on an amended nine-count charge bordering on alleged fraud, abuse of office, and diversion of public funds.

The commission maintained that it would not be distracted by what it described as “dramatised narratives” aimed at undermining lawful institutional procedures.

ICPC Denies Blocking El-Rufai From Receiving Food, Medical Care In Detention

Killings of teachers, citizens barbaric, satanic — Grand Chief Imam of Oyo Land

IBADAN — The Grand Chief Imam of Oyo Land, Sheikh Al-Imam Barrister Bilal Husayn Akinola Akeugberu, has condemned the brutal killings associated with the recent abduction of students and staff of Community High School, Ahoro-Esinle, in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

In a press release issued on Monday, May 18, 2026, the respected Islamic scholar expressed deep sorrow, pain and outrage over what he described as gruesome killings of innocent teachers and citizens by kidnappers and terrorists. He labeled the acts as barbaric, satanic, inhuman and a direct assault on the peace and sanctity of society.

Speaking with visible emotion and grief over the disturbing reports, the Grand Chief Imam said the entire Muslim Ummah and indeed all people of conscience must rise collectively against the growing wave of insecurity threatening communities across the nation.

According to Sheikh Akinola, the continuous shedding of innocent blood is a tragedy that should awaken governments, traditional institutions, religious leaders and community stakeholders to the urgent need for stronger collaboration in combating criminality and terrorism.

The cleric stressed that security should not be left to government alone. He called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth groups, market associations, transport unions, local vigilantes and community leaders to work together in exposing criminal elements, suspicious movements and informants aiding kidnappers within communities.

He warned that silence, indifference and concealment of criminal activities only embolden enemies of peace and humanity.

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The revered cleric also urged religious leaders across all faiths to intensify prayers for peace, justice and security while promoting moral discipline, unity and vigilance among citizens.

Quoting relevant verses from the Glorious Qur’an, Sheikh Bilal Akinola condemned those who derive pleasure in terrorizing innocent people and prayed for divine justice against all perpetrators of violence, bloodshed and oppression.

The Grand Chief Imam equally sympathized with the bereaved families, the people of Ahoro-Esinle, the management of the affected school, security personnel involved in rescue efforts and the Government and people of Oyo State over the unfortunate incident.

He commended security agencies for ongoing rescue operations and urged them not to relent until all remaining captives are safely reunited with their families.

The cleric further appealed to citizens to remain vigilant, cooperate with lawful authorities and avoid spreading fear, hatred or divisive sentiments capable of worsening the situation.

He prayed Almighty Allah to comfort the deceased families, protect those still in captivity, heal injured security personnel and restore lasting peace, safety and stability to Oyo State and Nigeria as a whole.

The abduction and killing of teachers and students at Community High School, Ahoro-Esinle, has sparked widespread outrage across Oyo State and the nation at large, with many calling for urgent and decisive action from security agencies and all tiers of government.

Killings of teachers, citizens barbaric, satanic — Grand Chief Imam of Oyo Land