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DSS witness, Deji Adeyanju, admits El-Rufai hacks NSA phone lines
Adejanju confirmed to investigators that he was present when El-Rufai made the statements on air and that when further questioned during the interview, the former governor stated that someone carried out the phone tapping and passed the information to him.
A witness has confirmed that the former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai wiretapped the telephone lines of the National Security Adviser (NSA).
At the resumption of the trial on Monday, a witness of the Department of State Services, DSS, Deji Adeyanju told a Federal High Court in Abuja that he appeared for an interview program on Arise News on February 16, the same day El-Rufai made the confession on the same television channel.
Adeyanju, the second witness to appear for the prosecution during the trial, told the Court that the former governor admitted during the television interview that ‘we listened to the conversations of the NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, Adeyanju confirmed that he knew El-Rufai as a former governor of Kaduna State and recalled issuing a public statement after reports emerged that the former governor was to be arrested by security operatives.
The prosecution tendered the subpoena used to summon Adeyanju, which was admitted and marked as Exhibit G.
The Arise News interview was watched in open court. The prosecution subsequently tendered Adeyanju’s own interview contained in a flash drive alongside a certificate of compliance.
Both were admitted in evidence as Exhibits.
Adeyanju told the court that he was invited by the Department of State Services, DSS, where he was asked to recount what transpired at the television studio.
Adeyanju confirmed to investigators that he was present when El-Rufai made the statements on air and that when further questioned during the interview, the former governor stated that someone carried out the phone tapping and passed the information to him.
Under cross-examination by defence counsel, Paul Erokoro, Adeyanju stated that while he did not hear El-Rufai specifically say he hacked the phone lines of the National Security Adviser, NSA, he heard him say, ‘we listened to the conversations of the NSA.
‘When asked whether he knew the means through which the NSA makes calls, and if he would be surprised to learn that DSS investigators did not ask the NSA which of his devices was allegedly compromised, he replied that those were not his business.
The matter was adjourned until June 23 for continuation of trial.
The DSS had filed a charge against El-Rufai over his alleged involvement in wiretapping the telephone lines of the NSA, Nuhu Ribadu.
In the three-count charges, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026 was filed early before the Federal High Court in Abuja, the secret police accused the former governor of breaching the Cybercrimes Prohibition Act, (2024), and the Nigerian Communications Act (2003.)
The matter was adjourned until June 23 for continuation of trial.
Counts in the charge reads:
*That you, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, adult, male, on 13th February, 2026, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, did admit during the interview that you and your cohorts unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment, Act, 2024.
*That you, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, adult, male, on 13t February, 2026, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, did state during the interview that you know and relate with certain individual, who unlawfully intercepted the Phone Communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, without reporting the said individual to relevant Security agencies and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 27 (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment, Act, 2024.
*That you, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, adult, male, and other still at large, sometime in 2026, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, with others still at large did use technical equipment or systems which compromised public safety, national security and instilling reasonable apprehension of insecurity among Nigerians by unlawfully intercepting the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to which you admitted during an interview on 13th February, 2026, on Arise TV station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 131(2) Nigerian Communications Act 2003.
Boko Haram has strongly denied reports of a ceasefire agreement with the Federal Government and insisted that it will continue its campaign of attacks.
In a statement released by the group, the militants dismissed claims of any truce or negotiated pause in hostilities, describing such reports as false and misleading.
The group reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing operations against government forces and other targets, vowing that its attacks will persist without interruption.
The denial comes against the backdrop of persistent insecurity in the northeast and other affected regions, where the group has maintained a long-standing insurgency.
Security sources note that the latest statement appears aimed at clarifying the group’s position and rejecting any suggestion of dialogue or de-escalation with the authorities.
Military and government officials have not issued an immediate detailed response to the claim, though security operations against the militants remain active. Authorities continue to urge vigilance as the group signals its intention to sustain violence.
Police authorities have raised a serious alarm over intelligence indicating that terrorists and their informants are actively spying on schools and other sensitive targets across the country.
According to security sources, the surveillance activities form part of a broader effort by extremist groups to gather information on soft targets, with educational institutions identified as particularly vulnerable. Officials warn that such reconnaissance could be a precursor to planned attacks and have called for immediate heightened vigilance by school administrators, security personnel, and the general public.
The police statement urges institutions to strengthen access controls, report suspicious individuals or activities promptly, and cooperate fully with security agencies. “We are treating these reports with the utmost seriousness,” a senior police official said, noting that the involvement of local informants makes the threat more difficult to detect.
The military has responded by confirming that it is closely monitoring the situation. In a brief statement, military authorities said relevant formations have been placed on alert and are working in coordination with the police and other security agencies to track and disrupt any potential threats.
Security experts note that schools and public gathering places have increasingly featured in the operational planning of terrorist groups in recent years, making continuous intelligence sharing and community awareness critical to prevention. Authorities continue to appeal for calm while stressing that proactive measures are already underway.
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Dangote Refinery IPO: SEC Warns Investors, ‘Don’t Pay Into Wrong Hands’
The warning effectively places investors on notice that interest in the IPO should not override basic due diligence, particularly in verifying where subscription applications are submitted and where payments are made.
• Aliko Dangote , flanks by her daughters and capital market regulators, during the gong opening ceremony on the NGX, Monday September 14,2026
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has warned prospective investors in the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals Initial Public Offering (IPO) against fraudsters and unauthorised platforms seeking to divert subscription funds.
The warning came as the refinery’s was quoted on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) on Monday, September 14, 2026, marking a major milestone in the company’s planned public offer.
With strong public interest expected around one of Nigeria’s largest capital-market offerings, the SEC urged investors to deal only with officially designated and approved receiving agents, subscription channels and platforms.
“The public is hereby advised to exercise caution and ensure that all applications and payments relating to the IPO are made only through the officially designated and approved receiving agents/subscription channels and platforms,” the Commission said.
The regulator’s alert highlights growing concerns over the possibility of fake investment websites, cloned platforms, fraudulent payment channels and individuals posing as authorised agents to exploit the huge interest generated by the Dangote Refinery offer.
The SEC therefore advised prospective investors to obtain information about the IPO only through the Commission’s official channels, the issuer’s official channels and other channels specifically established and approved for the offer.
The warning effectively places investors on notice that interest in the IPO should not override basic due diligence, particularly in verifying where subscription applications are submitted and where payments are made.
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