The ongoing trial of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, over alleged national security breaches took a dramatic turn yesterday as the federal government accused his family members of using the media to incite public opinion against the judiciary regarding his detention and bail conditions.
At the resumed hearing before the Federal High Court in Abuja, lead prosecuting counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN, informed the court that relatives of the former governor had repeatedly utilized social media and press engagements to portray the prosecution and security agencies as persecuting the defendant.
The prosecution cited an incident on May 15, where one of el-Rufai's wives allegedly arrived at the ICPC facility with cameramen and began livestreaming claims that her husband was being denied food and access to family members.
Aladedoye further alleged that politician Timi Frank published claims suggesting that the former governor could be harmed in custody, prompting security operatives to move him to DSS custody to avoid further controversy.
According to the prosecution, the situation escalated when members of the defendant's family, including two wives and a son, reportedly went to the DSS headquarters with journalists and publicly criticized the court's bail conditions. Aladedoye argued that rather than pursuing legal channels, the family resorted to media campaigns that could undermine public confidence in the judiciary.
The prosecution, therefore, urged the court to caution the defendant and his family against further public attacks, insisting that the matter before the court was a criminal prosecution and not political persecution.
Responding, defense counsel said he was unaware of the allegations raised by the prosecution and maintained that the defendant should not be held responsible for comments made outside the courtroom. He, however, noted that the defense would advise family members and sympathizers to exercise restraint.
The prosecution also presented evidence aimed at establishing claims that the former governor intercepted a private conversation involving the National Security Adviser (NSA). A 43-minute interview granted by el-Rufai on Arise News Television was played in court, during which he allegedly stated that someone had wiretapped a conversation involving the NSA and forwarded it to him. In the interview, el-Rufai defended the act, arguing that governments routinely monitor the communications of others.
A prosecution witness told the court that following the broadcast, investigators interviewed the NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, who confirmed that the conversation referenced by el-Rufai had indeed taken place between him and the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). According to the witness, the ICPC chairman also confirmed having such a discussion with the NSA after portions of the interview were played to him.
The witness further testified that the program anchor, Charles Aniagolu, alongside activist-lawyer Deji Adeyanju and a cameraman, were invited for questioning. Investigators said Aniagolu confirmed that el-Rufai admitted during the interview that someone intercepted the conversation and passed it to him, while also insisting that governments regularly engage in such practices.
Following the conclusion of cross-examination of the first prosecution witness, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjourned further trial in the matter until June 22 and 23.
