The Department of State Services (DSS) is set to arraign former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on February 25 over alleged cybercrime and breaches of national security, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court (FHC) fixed the date following the assignment of the case by the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho.
The DSS filed a three-count criminal charge against El-Rufai, accusing him of unlawfully intercepting telephone communications of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. The case is marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026 and cites violations of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
In the first count, El-Rufai is alleged to have, during an appearance on Arise TV’s Prime Time Programme on February 13, admitted to intercepting the NSA’s communications, contrary to Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes Act. The second count claims he knowingly associated with individuals who intercepted the NSA’s communications without reporting them to authorities, violating Section 27(b) of the Act. The third count alleges that he and others used technical equipment to compromise public safety and national security, instilling fear among Nigerians, an offence under Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act.
NAN notes that during the same interview, El-Rufai claimed he overheard the NSA directing security operatives to detain him, linking it to an attempted arrest at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on February 12, after returning from Cairo, Egypt.
Separately, El-Rufai was recently detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over corruption allegations, granted administrative bail, but was immediately taken into custody by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). ICPC spokesperson John Odey confirmed that El-Rufai remains in the commission’s custody amid ongoing investigations.
