DSS fixes Feb 25 to arraign El-Rufai over alleged cybercrime

The Department of State Services has scheduled February 25 for the arraignment of a former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations bordering on cybercrime and threats to national security.

The matter, filed under suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, has been assigned to Justice Joyce Abdulmalik by the Chief Judge of the court, Justice John Tsoho. The court has fixed the date for the defendant to formally take his plea.

The DSS lodged a three-count charge against the former governor on Monday, accusing him of unlawfully tapping into the telephone communications of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

According to the secret police, the alleged actions violate provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, as well as the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.

In the first count, the prosecution claimed that on February 13, 2026, while featuring on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme in Abuja, El-Rufai allegedly admitted during a live interview that he and others intercepted the phone lines of the NSA without authorization. The offence is said to contravene Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.

Count two alleges that during the same broadcast, the former governor stated that he was aware of, and associated with, an individual involved in the unlawful interception of the NSA’s communications but failed to report the matter to security authorities. The DSS maintained that this is punishable under Section 27(b) of the Act.

During the Arise TV interview, El-Rufai had claimed he overheard Ribadu instructing security operatives to detain him. He linked the alleged directive to what he described as an attempted arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on February 12, shortly after he returned from Cairo, Egypt.

The former governor was later granted administrative bail around 8 p.m. on Wednesday after being questioned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over an alleged N432 billion fraud case.

However, shortly after his release, he was reportedly taken into custody again by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.