There was mild drama at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday as the Department of State Services arraigned former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over allegations of unlawful interception of telephone communications belonging to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

El-Rufai, who governed Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023 and previously served as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, was docked on a five-count charge before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.

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According to the DSS, the former governor allegedly conspired with others—currently at large—to intercept the private communications of the NSA, an act said to be in violation of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.

Prosecutors told the court that El-Rufai had, during a television appearance in February, admitted to having links with individuals involved in the unlawful act.

The security agency further alleged that despite having knowledge of the crime, El-Rufai failed to report it to appropriate authorities, an omission it described as a punishable offence under the law.

It also claimed that the alleged use of technical equipment to carry out the interception posed a threat to national security and heightened public anxiety.

However, when the charges were read in court, El-Rufai pleaded not guilty to all counts.

His legal team, led by Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, subsequently filed an application seeking his release on bail pending the determination of the case.

The 2026 edition of The Nigeria Prize for Literature has entered the adjudication stage following the formal handover of 223 entries by NLNG to the Advisory Board and panel of judges in Lagos on Monday.

The submission volume reflects a strong outing for the poetry category, broadly in line with recent cycles and demonstrating sustained participation from writers. While slightly below some peak years, the figure remains competitive, particularly when viewed alongside recent prose entries, underscoring continued interest in the Prize and reaffirming its significance within Nigeria’s literary landscape.

The general manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, NLNG, Dr. Sophia Horsfall, represented by Abdul Umar, Manager, Government Relations, NLNG, described the handover as the beginning of a rigorous and defining process that will ultimately determine this year’s winning work.

“This marks the start of a process that demands attention, patience, and sound judgement, and will ultimately determine the work that defines this year’s Prize,” she said.

This year’s $100,000 Prize, widely regarded as one of Africa’s most prestigious literary honours, focuses on Poetry. Dr. Horsfall noted that the genre demands precision, depth, and clarity, with expectations shaped by the strong benchmark set in previous cycles, particularly the 2022 edition, which produced a winning work that continues to resonate within contemporary Nigerian literature.

She reaffirmed NLNG’s commitment to sustaining a credible platform that promotes literary excellence and contributes to national development through the arts.

“At NLNG, we have consistently provided a platform that supports excellence and inspires a sustainable future. Beyond recognising talent, the Prize has contributed to the growth of reading culture, encouraged discipline in writing, and strengthened Nigeria’s literary landscape,” she added.

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Dr. Horsfall emphasised that the credibility of the Prize lies in the integrity of its adjudication process, which will involve months of detailed reading, evaluation, and deliberation, culminating in a longlist of eleven entries, a shortlist of three, and ultimately, the selection of a winner.

The entries were formally presented to the Advisory Board, chaired by Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, who in turn handed them over to the panel of judges for evaluation in line with established standards.

Receiving the entries, Prof. Adimora-Ezeigbo commended NLNG for its continued dedication to the Prize, noting that each edition reflects the evolving depth and diversity of Nigerian writing across genres.

She also acknowledged the writers whose submissions continue to sustain the Prize’s relevance and impact and urged the panel of judges to demonstrate the highest level of professionalism and depth in selecting the winning entry.

The Nigeria Prize for Literature, sponsored annually by NLNG, remains a flagship initiative in the company’s commitment to education, culture, and sustainable development, and continues to serve as a benchmark for literary excellence in Africa.

Nigeria’s former petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has submitted that she was irrationally blamed and scapegoated for decisions taken at the highest levels of government, particularly during the fallout from Nigeria’s 2012 fuel subsidy crisis.

She made the assertion when her trial resumed on Day 23 at the Southwark Crown Court in London.

Testifying under cross-examination, Diezani said she felt “betrayed” by the manner in which the subsidy removal was implemented under former President Goodluck Jonathan, noting that the abrupt New Year’s Day announcement triggered nationwide unrest and placed her, as petroleum minister, at the centre of public outrage.

She insisted that the policy had been the subject of prior deliberations and that its sudden execution exposed her to criticism for decisions she did not solely control.

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“I felt betrayed to a certain extent,” she said, referring to the decision taken under former President Goodluck Jonathan.

“I felt like a scapegoat because I was ultimately responsible as oil minister.”

Diezani rejected suggestions by the prosecution that she exercised authority over luxury properties allegedly connected to businessman Ben Peters, insisting that her involvement was limited to offering interior design advice.

“I was giving advice, not instructions,” she told the court, pushing back against claims that she directed refurbishment works or controlled the properties in question.

According to her, communications with contractors and intermediaries were purely advisory and did not translate into ownership or decision-making authority.

She further argued that there was no documentary evidence directly linking her to legal ownership of the properties, maintaining that any inference to the contrary was speculative.

On the issue of her alleged use of a property known as Harbour House, she said she did not stay there and, at most, may have visited once.

At several points during the proceedings, Diezani challenged the credibility of witnesses whose accounts the prosecution relied upon.

She questioned the accuracy of a furniture dealer’s testimony regarding payment arrangements and dismissed attempts to identify her through visitor logs under a different name.

“You are implying that the black woman is me, and I’m telling you that I’m not the one,” she said, firmly rejecting the suggestion.

A key plank of her defence was her insistence that she did not improperly benefit from luxury goods.

While acknowledging that she selected furniture and decorative items during the period under review, she maintained that any items used personally were paid for.

“There was always someone to pay at the point of purchase,” she said, explaining that while third parties may have handled payments initially, reimbursements were made in cash.

She told the court that this reflected the realities of Nigeria’s largely cash-based economy at the time.

Diezani also offered explanations for the movement and storage of items cited by the prosecution, describing them as part of a normal interior design process rather than evidence of personal acquisition.

According to her, items were often moved between locations or placed in storage as part of staging and refurbishment decisions.

Addressing allegations of financial benefits flowing through associates to her family, the former minister distanced herself from such transactions and denied prior knowledge of them.

She told the court she was unaware of donations allegedly made to her brother’s church and had no involvement in its affairs beyond attending an award ceremony.

“I was not involved in any way,” she said, adding that her brother never discussed such matters with her.

On payments made by associates for personal or family-related expenses, including school fees, Diezani framed such gestures within the context of Nigerian social norms.

She explained that it was not unusual for wealthy individuals to assist others financially, and that such actions should not automatically be construed as improper.

In one instance, she said her son’s school fees in the United Kingdom were paid by Peters after he overheard a conversation about the issue.

She insisted that the payment was unsolicited and consistent with a culture of generosity.

“We did not ask for it,” she said, maintaining that there was no intention to derive undue benefit.

Diezani also addressed questions surrounding her use of a private jet, which prosecutors suggested reflected extravagant spending.

She maintained that the flight was necessitated by the urgency of the situation in Nigeria at the time of the fuel subsidy crisis.

According to her, she had originally planned to return to Nigeria on a commercial flight but had to leave earlier due to the sudden escalation of unrest.

“We were taken completely by surprise,” she said, explaining that her immediate return was required in response to the deteriorating situation.

Throughout the cross-examination, Diezani frequently stated that she could not recall specific details relating to emails, invoices, and transactions dating back more than a decade.

She attributed these memory gaps to the passage of time and the volume of material presented in court.

“Madam Prosecutor, I cannot possibly answer that question in 2026, after all these years,” she said during one exchange.

The prosecution, however, continues to argue that the pattern of communications, payments, and asset movements forms part of a broader scheme in which Diezani benefited from assets held in the names of others.

Proceedings are expected to continue with further cross-examination as the court examines the competing narratives.