Nigeria’s Department of State Services has scheduled Feb. 25 to arraign former Kaduna State Gov. Nasir El-Rufai before the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges of cybercrime and threats to national security.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, was assigned to Justice Joyce Abdulmalik by Chief Judge John Tsoho, who fixed the arraignment date.
In a three-count charge filed Monday, the DSS accused El-Rufai of unlawfully intercepting the telephone communications of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, in violation of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
According to the first count, the former governor allegedly admitted during a Feb. 13 appearance on Arise TV in Abuja that he and others intercepted the NSA’s phone communications, an offense punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes Act.
The second count alleges that El-Rufai acknowledged knowing an individual involved in the interception but failed to report the matter to security agencies, contrary to Section 27(b) of the same law.
During the television interview, El-Rufai said he overheard Ribadu directing security operatives to detain him, linking the claim to what he described as an attempted arrest at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Feb. 12 after returning from Cairo.
El-Rufai was later granted administrative bail Wednesday after being detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over an alleged 432 billion naira fraud case. He was subsequently taken into custody by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, according to reports.
