The legal storm surrounding former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has deepened as the Department of State Services (DSS) filed a three-count criminal charge accusing him of unlawfully intercepting the telephone communications 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 has fixed a date for the defendant’s arraignment.
According to court documents filed on Monday, the DSS alleged that El-Rufai contravened provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
In the first count, the security agency claimed that on 13 February 2026, while appearing on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme in Abuja, El-Rufai admitted during the live broadcast that he and others unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the NSA. The alleged offence is said to be punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes Amendment Act, 2024.
Count two further accused the former governor of stating during the same interview that
he was aware of, and had interacted with, an individual who unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s communications without reporting the matter to relevant security authorities. The DSS maintained that the alleged conduct is punishable under Section 27(b) of the same Act.During the televised interview, El-Rufai claimed he overheard Ribadu directing 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 12 February upon his return from Cairo, Egypt.
The controversy intensified on Wednesday evening when the former governor was granted administrative bail at about 8 p.m. after being detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for questioning in connection with an alleged N432bn fraud case.
However, shortly after his release, he was reportedly taken into custody again — this time by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission — signalling a dramatic turn in the unfolding saga.
With multiple security agencies now involved and serious cybercrime allegations before the Federal High Court, the coming days are expected to shape a high-stakes legal and political showdown.
