The Department of State Services (DSS) will on February 25 arraign former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over alleged cybercrime and breach of national security, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
The date was fixed by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court after the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho, assigned the case to her.
NAN had earlier reported that the DSS on Monday filed a three-count criminal charge against El-Rufai over his alleged role in wiretapping the telephone lines of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. The suit, filed by the secret police, is marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026.
The agency accused the former governor of violating the Cybercrimes Prohibition Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
According to the charge, El-Rufai allegedly admitted on February 13, during an appearance on Arise TV’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, that he and others unlawfully intercepted the phone calls of the NSA, Mr Ribadu.
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, prosecutors alleged that while speaking on the same programme on February 13, El-Rufai said he knew and related with an individual who illegally tapped the NSA’s phone lines but failed to report the person to security agencies.
This, the DSS said, is contrary to and punishable under Section 27(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
The third count stated that El-Rufai and others still on the run, sometime in 2026 in Abuja, used technical devices or systems that threatened public safety and national security and created fear among Nigerians by unlawfully intercepting the NSA’s communications.
The DSS said the former governor admitted to the act during the February 13 interview on Arise TV’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, “and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 131(2) Nigerian Communications Act 2003.”
NAN recalls that during the live interview, El-Rufai claimed he overheard Mr Ribadu directing security agents 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 after he returned from Cairo, Egypt.
Earlier in the week, El-Rufai was detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over corruption allegations.
He was granted administrative bail around 8 p.m. on Wednesday but was reportedly taken into custody immediately by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Confirming the development, ICPC spokesperson John Odey said in a message shared on a journalist’s WhatsApp group on Wednesday night, “Malam Nasiru El-Rufai is in the custody of the commission in connection with ongoing investigations.”
