The Department of State Services (DSS) is set to arraign former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on February 25 over alleged cybercrime and breach of national security, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) has reported.
The arraignment date was fixed by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court (FHC) after the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho, assigned the case to her.
According to NAN, the DSS filed a three-count criminal charge against El-Rufai on Monday, accusing him of involvement in the alleged unlawful interception of the telephone lines of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, was instituted by the Nigerian secret police. The service alleged that El-Rufai breached provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, as well as the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
In the first count, the DSS alleged that El-Rufai, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja on February 13, admitted during the interview that he and his associates unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the NSA. The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
The second count alleged that during the same television appearance, the former governor stated that he knew and had dealings with an individual who unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s phone communications but failed to report the person to relevant security agencies. The alleged offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 27(b) of the same Act.
In the third count, the DSS accused El-Rufai and others still at large of using technical equipment or systems in Abuja in 2026 to unlawfully intercept the NSA’s communications, thereby compromising public safety and national security and causing reasonable apprehension of insecurity among Nigerians.
The case is expected to come up for arraignment on February 25 before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
