The Department of State Services has fixed February 25 for the arraignment of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations bordering on cybercrime and threats to national security.
The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, was assigned to Justice Joyce Abdulmalik by the Chief Judge of the court, Justice John Tsoho, who scheduled the defendant’s arraignment for the said date.
The DSS on Monday filed a three-count charge against El-Rufai, accusing him of unlawfully intercepting the telephone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
According to the secret police, the alleged actions contravene 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 on Prime Time on Arise TV in Abuja, the former governor admitted during a live interview that he and others unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s telephone conversations, an offence punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
In count two, El-Rufai was accused of stating during the same programme that he was aware of, and associated with, an individual who unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s communications without reporting the matter to security authorities. The offence is said to be punishable under Section 27(b) of the same Act.
During the 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.
The former governor was later granted administrative bail around 8 p.m. on Wednesday after being detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for questioning in connection with an alleged N432bn fraud case.
However, shortly after his release, he was reportedly taken into custody by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
