By Deborah Nnamdi
The Department of State Services has fixed February 25 to arraign former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged cybercrime and breach of national security.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, has been assigned to Justice Joyce Abdulmalik by the Chief Judge of the court, Justice John Tsoho, who subsequently scheduled the arraignment date.
The DSS on Monday filed a three-count criminal charge against the former governor, accusing him of unlawfully intercepting the telephone lines of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
According to the secret police, El-Rufai’s alleged actions contravened provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, as well as the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
In the first count, the DSS alleged that on February 13, 2026, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme in Abuja, El-Rufai admitted during a live interview that he and others unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the NSA. The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
In the second count, the former governor was accused of stating during the same interview that he knew and had contact with an individual who unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s phone communications but failed to report the person to relevant security agencies. The DSS said the alleged offence is punishable under Section 27(b) of the amended Act.
During the Arise TV interview, El-Rufai claimed he overheard Ribadu directing security operatives to detain him, linking the alleged directive to what he described as an attempted arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on February 12 upon his return from Cairo, Egypt.
The former governor was later granted administrative bail at about 8 p.m. on Wednesday after being detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for questioning in connection with an alleged N432 billion fraud case.
However, shortly after his release, he was reportedly taken into custody by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
