The Federal Government has instituted a three-count criminal charge against former Kaduna State governor Nasir El‑Rufai at the Federal High Court, alleging the unlawful interception of telephone communications belonging to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and failure to report those allegedly involved in the act.
Court documents filed under charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026 show that the Department of State Services (DSS) based the charges on statements reportedly made by El-Rufai during an interview on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme aired on 13 February 2026. According to prosecutors, the former governor allegedly admitted that he and certain associates intercepted the NSA’s communications, an action said to constitute an offence under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
In a second count, the prosecution alleged that El-Rufai acknowledged knowing and maintaining contact with an individual who unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s phone communications but failed to report the matter to relevant security agencies, contrary to provisions of the Cybercrimes law. The third count further accuses El-Rufai and others still at large of deploying technical equipment in Abuja in 2026 to intercept the NSA’s communications in a manner that allegedly endangered public safety, compromised national security, and caused public apprehension, in violation of Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
The charge, dated 16 February 2026, was filed by a prosecution team comprising M. E. Ernest, O. M. Owan, U. M. Bulla, C. S. Eze, and E. G. Orubor, all of the DSS legal department. As of the time of filing this report, no plea has been taken, and an arraignment date has yet to be fixed.
The case comes amid rising tensions between the former governor and Federal Authorities following recent exchanges over national security-related allegations.
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