DSS Sets February 25 For Arraignment Of Ex-Governor Nasir El-Rufai Over Cybercrime, Security Breaches
The Department of State Services (DSS) has set February 25 for the arraignment of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai over alleged violations of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
The case, assigned to Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court by Chief Judge Justice John Tsoho, is listed under suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026.
Court filings show that the DSS filed a three-count charge against El-Rufai, accusing him of unlawfully intercepting the telephone communications of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
In the first count, prosecutors allege that during a February 13 interview on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme in Abuja, El-Rufai admitted that he and others intercepted the NSA’s communications without legal authority, an offence punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes Act.
The second count claims El-Rufai knowingly associated with an individual involved in the interception but failed to report the matter to security agencies, contrary to Section 27(b) of the same Act.
The third count alleges that in 2026, in Abuja, El-Rufai and others still at large used technical equipment to intercept the NSA’s communications in a way that compromised public safety and national security, violating Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
The charges stem from statements El-Rufai made during the televised interview, in which he claimed to have overheard the NSA directing security operatives to detain him. He linked this alleged directive to an attempted arrest at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on February 12, shortly after returning from Cairo, Egypt.
The arraignment comes as El-Rufai faces multiple legal challenges. He was previously detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over separate corruption allegations. Although granted administrative bail on Wednesday evening, he was immediately taken into custody by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
ICPC spokesperson John Odey confirmed that El-Rufai “is in the custody of the commission in connection with ongoing investigations.”
