The Department of State Services (DSS) has fixed February 25 for the arraignment of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged cybercrime and breach of national security.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, has been assigned to Justice Joyce Abdulmalik by the Chief Judge of the court, Justice John Tsoho, who scheduled the date for the defendant’s arraignment.
According to court documents, the DSS filed a three-count charge against El-Rufai, accusing him of unlawfully intercepting the telephone lines of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The agency alleged that the former governor’s actions violated provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, as well as the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
In the first count, the DSS claimed that El-Rufai, during an appearance on Arise TV’s Prime Time Programme on February 13, 2026, admitted that he and others unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s phone communications. The offence is said to be punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes Amendment Act, 2024.
In the second count, the prosecution alleged that during the same interview, El-Rufai stated that he was aware of and had dealings with an individual who unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s phone communications but failed to report the matter to relevant security agencies. The alleged offence is punishable under Section 27(b) of the Act.
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During the live television interview, El-Rufai had claimed that 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, Egypt.
The former governor was later granted administrative bail around 8 p.m. on Wednesday after being detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over allegations of a N432 billion fraud case.
However, shortly after his release, he was reportedly taken into custody by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission for further questioning.
