Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, will be arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja on February 25 over alleged cybercrime and breach of national security.
El-Rufai is facing a three-count charge bordering on the alleged unlawful interception of the phone lines of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, was assigned to Justice Joyce Abdulmalik by the Chief Judge of the court, Justice John Tsoho, who subsequently fixed the arraignment date.
The Department of State Services on Monday filed the charges against El-Rufai, alleging that the former governor’s actions contravened provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024 and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
In the first count, the DSS alleged that El-Rufai, on February 13, 2026, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme in Abuja, admitted during the interview that he and others unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the NSA.
The DSS said the offence was contrary to, and punishable under, Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
If found guilty, the former governor may face up to two years’ imprisonment as provided under the Act.
Section 12 of the Act states, “A person who intentionally and without authorisation intercepts by technical means non-public transmissions of computer data, content, or traffic data, including electromagnetic emissions or signals from a computer, computer system or network carrying or emitting signals to or from a computer, computer system or connected system or network, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment of not more than two years or to a fine of not more than N5,000,000.00 or both.”
In count two, El-Rufai was accused of stating during the same television interview that he knew and related with an individual who unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s phone communications without reporting the person to relevant security agencies.
The DSS said the alleged offence was punishable under Section 27(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
During the live Arise TV interview, El-Rufai claimed that he overheard Ribadu directing security operatives to detain him. He linked 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 earlier invited and detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday over an alleged N432bn fraud case.
He was released on Wednesday evening but was subsequently taken into custody by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
El-Rufai has since remained in ICPC custody.
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