Nasir El-Rufai cybercrime charges filed by DSS over alleged interception of NSA Nuhu Ribadu’s phone lines

Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, will be arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on February 25 over alleged cybercrime and breach of national security.

Also read: ICPC detains Nasir El-Rufai after DSS re-arrest

Nasir El-Rufai cybercrime charges stem from a three-count charge accusing the former governor of unlawfully intercepting the phone lines of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, has been assigned to Justice Joyce Abdulmalik by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, who fixed the arraignment date.

The Department of State Services filed the charges on Monday, alleging that El-Rufai’s actions contravened provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024 and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.

In the first count, the DSS alleged that El-Rufai, on February 13, 2026, during an appearance on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme in Abuja, admitted that he and others unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the NSA.

The agency said the alleged offence is contrary to Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, which prescribes a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment or a fine of N5m, or both.

Section 12 criminalises the intentional and unauthorised interception of non-public transmissions of computer data, content or traffic data, including signals emitted from a computer or connected system.

In count two, the DSS accused El-Rufai of stating during the same interview that he knew and maintained contact with an individual who allegedly intercepted the NSA’s communications but failed to report the matter to security agencies.

The charge is said to be punishable under Section 27(b) of the amended Cybercrimes Act.

During the live interview, El-Rufai claimed he overheard Ribadu directing security operatives to detain him.

El-Rufai linked the alleged directive to what he described as an attempted arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on February 12 upon his return from Cairo, Egypt.

The fresh prosecution comes amid a flurry of legal challenges facing the former governor. Earlier this week, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission invited and detained El-Rufai over an alleged N432bn fraud case.

Although released on Wednesday evening, El-Rufai was subsequently taken into custody by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.

Also read: Nasir El-Rufai faces cybercrime charges over NSA phone interception

El-Rufai remains in ICPC custody as preparations continue for his arraignment in what is shaping up to be a high-stakes legal battle with significant political and security implications.