The Department of State Services (DSS) is set to arraign former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai on Wednesday, February 25, over alleged cybercrime and threats to national security.
El-Rufai will appear before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja to answer to a three-count charge filed by the secret police.
According to court documents, the charges stem from comments allegedly made by the former governor during an appearance on Arise TV’s Prime Time program on February 13.
The DSS accused El-Rufai of unlawfully intercepting telephone communications involving the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
In the first count, the prosecution alleged that El-Rufai admitted during the televised interview that he and others intercepted the NSA’s phone communications, an offense said to be punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
The second count accused him of acknowledging that he knew an individual who intercepted the NSA’s calls but failed to report the matter to security agencies, contrary to Section 27(b) of the same Act.
In the third count, the DSS alleged that El-Rufai and others still at large used technical equipment in 2026 to compromise public safety and national security by unlawfully intercepting the NSA’s communications. The charge also cited provisions of the Cybercrimes Amendment Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
Nigerian Newssphere recalls that on February 18, the DSS briefly took El-Rufai into custody after he had spent two nights with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The former governor had earlier claimed that the NSA’s phone was wiretapped, enabling him to hear directives allegedly issued for his arrest.
El-Rufai is also reported to be in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over alleged corruption during his tenure as governor of Kaduna State.
