The Department of State Services is set to arraign former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai on February 25 over allegations bordering on cybercrime and threats to national security, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court scheduled the arraignment date after the Chief Judge of the court, Justice John Tsoho, assigned the matter to her for hearing.
Earlier reports indicated that the DSS filed a three-count criminal charge against El-Rufai on Monday, accusing him of involvement in unlawfully intercepting the telephone communications of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. The charge, brought by the secret police, is marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026.
The security agency alleged that the former governor violated provisions of the Cybercrimes Prohibition Act (2024) as well as the Nigerian Communications Act (2003).
According to the charges presented before the court, El-Rufai was said to have appeared as a guest on Arise TV’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja on February 13, during which he allegedly acknowledged that he and certain associates unlawfully intercepted the phone communications 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 during the same February 13 television appearance, El-Rufai admitted that he was aware of and maintained contact with an individual who unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s phone communications but failed to report the person to the appropriate security authorities.
The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 27(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
The third count accused El-Rufai and others who are currently at large of using technical devices or systems at some point in 2026 within Abuja in a manner that jeopardised public safety and national security, thereby creating reasonable fear among citizens by unlawfully intercepting the NSA’s phone communications.
The act, which the DSS said the ex-governor admitted during an interview on Feb. 13th on Arise TV station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, “and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 131(2) Nigerian Communications Act 2003.”
It would be recalled that during the live television interview, El-Rufai claimed he overheard Mr Ribadu instructing security operatives to arrest 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 subsequently detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday in connection with corruption allegations.
He was granted administrative bail at approximately 8 p.m. on Wednesday but was reportedly taken into custody immediately afterward by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
Confirming the development, the ICPC spokesperson, John Odey, stated in a message circulated in a journalists’ WhatsApp group on Wednesday night, “Malam Nasiru El-Rufai is in the custody of the commission in connection with ongoing investigations.”
What you should know
The DSS has filed a three-count charge against former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, accusing him of unlawfully intercepting the phone communications of the National Security Adviser and breaching both the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024 and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
The arraignment has been scheduled for February 25 before the Federal High Court in Abuja. The allegations stem partly from comments El-Rufai reportedly made during a televised interview on February 13.
He was earlier detained by the EFCC over corruption allegations, granted administrative bail, and then taken into custody by the ICPC for ongoing investigations.
