The Department of State Services (DSS) will on February 25 arraign former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged cybercrime and breach of national security linked to the purported interception of the telephone communications of National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
Court filings show that the DSS has instituted a three-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, which has been assigned to Justice Joyce Abdulmalik following approval by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho.
According to the charge, El-Rufai is accused of unlawfully intercepting, or facilitating the interception of, the private communications of the NSA, contrary to provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act 2024 and the Nigerian Communications Act 2003. Prosecutors allege that the former governor admitted knowledge of the interception during a televised interview but failed to report the incident to authorities, thereby committing an additional offence.
The DSS claims the alleged offences stem from El-Rufai’s appearance on ARISE Television’s Prime Time programme on February 13 2026. During the interview, he reportedly stated that he had knowledge of a telephone conversation involving the NSA in which instructions were allegedly given to security operatives to detain him. He also suggested that an associate had intercepted the communication, a disclosure investigators say amounts to admission of unlawful interception and possession of protected communications.
Count one of the charge alleges unlawful interception of protected communications, punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes Act 2024. Count two accuses him of failing to report knowledge of such unlawful interception, contrary to Section 27(b) of the same Act. Count three alleges use of technical means capable of compromising national security through unauthorised access to telecommunications systems, an offence under Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003.
The charges are also tied to events of February 12 2026, when El-Rufai returned to Abuja from Cairo and claimed he narrowly avoided arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport after becoming aware of alleged instructions to detain him. Security sources say the public disclosure of purportedly intercepted communications triggered the DSS investigation.
The impending arraignment comes amid a series of legal troubles for the former governor. He was recently detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over separate corruption allegations and, after being granted administrative bail, was transferred to the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for further questioning in related matters. Officials say the DSS prosecution is independent of the ongoing anti-corruption investigations.
El-Rufai, a prominent figure in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has yet to publicly respond to the DSS charges. His legal team is expected to address the allegations at the scheduled arraignment.
Court proceedings on February 25 will mark the first formal hearing in the cybercrime and national-security case, which prosecutors describe as involving unlawful access to sensitive telecommunications and potential compromise of state security communications
Abuja Network News
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