- El-Rufai had alleged that he overheard Ribadu instructing security personnel to detain him
- DSS filed a three-count charge accusing El-Rufai of illegally tapping the phone lines of the NSA
- The DSS maintains that such conduct is punishable under Section 12(1) of the amended Cybercrimes Act
The Department of State Services has scheduled February 25 for the arraignment of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai before the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations of cybercrime and threats to national security.
The suit, listed as FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, was assigned to Justice Joyce Abdulmalik by the court’s Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho, who approved the date for the former governor to enter his plea, Eko Hot Blog reports.
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Earlier this week, the DSS filed a three-count charge accusing El-Rufai of illegally tapping the phone lines of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
The agency contends that the alleged actions violate provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, as well as the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
According to the first charge, the security agency claimed that during an appearance on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme on February 13, 2026, El-Rufai acknowledged that he and others had intercepted the NSA’s communications.
The DSS maintains that such conduct is punishable under Section 12(1) of the amended Cybercrimes Act.
In the second count, prosecutors alleged that the former governor admitted knowing an individual involved in unlawfully accessing the NSA’s phone conversations but failed to alert the appropriate authorities, an offence said to fall under Section 27(b) of the same law.
During the live television interview, El-Rufai had alleged that he overheard Ribadu instructing security personnel to detain him, linking the claim to what he described as an attempted arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on February 12 after returning from Cairo, Egypt.
Following questioning by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in connection with an alleged N432bn fraud case, El-Rufai was granted administrative bail late Wednesday evening.
However, reports indicate that he was subsequently taken into custody by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission shortly after his release.
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