The Federal Government has expanded its criminal case against former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, introducing new allegations linked to national security and unlawful access to classified information.
The updated charges, filed on April 13, 2026, before the Federal High Court in Abuja, replace an earlier three-count charge with a broader five-count case.
At his arraignment on Thursday, El-Rufai pleaded not guilty to all the charges after the court approved the amended filing.
Prosecutors told the court that the new charges go beyond earlier claims of unlawful communication interception, now including accusations of interfering with critical national infrastructure and accessing sensitive government information without authorization.
One of the charges alleges that El-Rufai tampered with communication channels linked to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, which are classified as part of Nigeria’s protected national information systems.
In another count, the government accused him of unlawfully obtaining classified details related to Ribadu, including information concerning his arrest and detention order earlier in February 2026.
The revised charges also retain earlier allegations, including claims that El-Rufai admitted to intercepting communications during a television appearance, and that such actions could pose risks to public safety and national security.
Following the arraignment, the prosecution pushed for a speedy trial, requesting consecutive hearing dates. However, the defence raised concerns about adequate access to legal counsel, noting that the former governor remains in custody.
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The prosecution also applied to conceal the identities of two witnesses for security reasons, a move strongly opposed by the defence, which argued that it violates the defendant’s right to know his accusers.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjourned the case to May 18, 19, and 20, 2026, for further hearing.
Meanwhile, a separate bail application filed by El-Rufai was recently denied by a Kaduna State High Court, which ruled that the seriousness of the allegations and the risk of interference with ongoing investigations outweighed arguments for his release.
The court ordered that he remain in custody pending trial, as legal proceedings continue to unfold.
