WIRETAPPING TRIAL: DSS LAWYER ACCUSES EL-RUFAI’S FAMILY OF ATTACKING JUDICIARY THROUGH MEDIA CAMPAIGN

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By:Tajudeen Aminat

Proceedings in the ongoing trial of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over alleged national security breaches took a new dimension on Tuesday, as the Federal Government’s lawyer accused members of his family of using the media to influence public opinion against the judiciary and his detention conditions.

At the resumed hearing before the Federal High Court in Abuja, lead prosecuting counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN, told the court that relatives of the former governor had repeatedly turned to social media and press appearances to paint the prosecution and security agencies as being unfair to the defendant.

The prosecution referenced an incident on May 15, alleging that one of El-Rufai’s wives arrived at an ICPC facility with cameramen and live-streamed claims that her husband was being denied food and access to family members.

Aladedoye also alleged that politician Timi Frank circulated claims suggesting that the former governor might be harmed in custody, which he said contributed to El-Rufai’s transfer to DSS custody to prevent further controversy.

He further told the court that members of the defendant’s family, including two wives and a son, later visited the DSS headquarters with journalists and publicly criticized the court’s bail conditions.

According to him, the actions amounted to attempts to sway public sentiment and undermine confidence in the judiciary, rather than following proper legal channels.

The prosecution urged the court to caution the defendant and his family against further media statements, insisting that the matter before the court was strictly a criminal trial and not a political persecution.

In response, defence counsel said he was not aware of the allegations and argued that the defendant should not be held responsible for comments made by family members outside the courtroom, adding that steps would be taken to advise them to exercise restraint.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik stated that she does not engage with social media narratives and stressed that matters circulating online should not influence court proceedings, before directing the trial to continue.

The hearing later proceeded with the prosecution tendering a silver flash drive and a certificate of compliance, marked as Exhibits B and B1.

The court also previewed contents of the flash drive, said to contain an interview granted by El-Rufai to Arise News Television.