Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, will on February 25 be arraigned by the Department of State Services (DSS) over alleged cybercrime and threats to national security.
The case was assigned to Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court (FHC) by the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho.
The DSS filed a three-count charge against El-Rufai, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, accusing him of unlawfully intercepting the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
According to the charge, El-Rufai allegedly admitted during a February 13 interview on Prime Time on Arise TV in Abuja that he and his associates intercepted the NSA’s calls—an offence punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
In the second count, he is accused of acknowledging knowledge of an individual who carried out the interception without reporting the matter to security agencies, contrary to Section 27(b) of the same Act.
The third count alleges that El-Rufai and others still at large used technical systems to compromise public safety and national security by unlawfully intercepting the NSA’s communications, an offence under Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
During the Arise TV interview, El-Rufai claimed he overheard Ribadu directing security operatives to detain him—an allegation he linked to an attempted arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on February 12, shortly after his return from Cairo, Egypt.
Detentions trail case
El-Rufai was earlier detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over corruption allegations. Although he was granted administrative bail around 8 p.m. on Wednesday, he was immediately taken into custody by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Confirming the development, ICPC spokesperson John Odey said: “Malam Nasiru El-Rufai is in the custody of the commission in connection with ongoing investigations.”
