BREAKING: DSS files charges against El-Rufai over ‘tapping of Ribadu’s phone’

The Department of State Services (DSS) has instituted legal action against former Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, over claims that he was involved in the illegal interception of the telephone conversations of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

According to court documents, the security agency filed a three-count charge, with suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday.

The DSS accused the ex-governor of violating provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, as well as the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.

The charges were reportedly linked to comments El-Rufai made during an interview on Arise TV’s Prime Time Programme on February 13, 2026.

Part of the charge reads: That you, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, adult, male, on 13th February, 2026, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, did admit during the interview that you and your cohorts unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment, Act, 2024.

That you, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, adult, male, on 13t February, 2026, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, did state during the interview that you know and relate with certain individual, who unlawfully intercepted the Phone Communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, without reporting the said individual to relevant Security agencies and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 27 (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment, Act, 2024.

”That you, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, adult, male, and other still at large, sometime in 2026, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, with others still at large did use technical equipment or systems which compromised public safety, national security and instilling reasonable apprehension of insecurity among Nigerians by unlawfully intercepting the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to which you admitted during an interview on 13th February, 2026, on Arise TV station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 131(2) Nigerian Communications Act 2003.

The DSS maintained that the alleged actions endangered national security and public safety, insisting that the offences were serious enough to warrant prosecution under existing cybercrime and communications laws.