The Federal Government will, on February 25, arraign a former governor of Kaduna State and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nasir el-Rufa’i, on alleged cybercrime and breach of national security.
The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court (FHC), Justice John Tsoho, assigned the case to Justice Joyce AbdulMalik, also of the FHC, and fixed the arraignment for the said date.
Recall that the Department of State Services (DSS) had on Monday, filed a 3-count criminal charge against the former governor, following his statement on wiretapping the telephone lines of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribaɗu.
The criminal charge was filed the same day el-Rufa’i honoured an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in respect of allegations bordering on corruption and fraud to the tune of over ₦440 billion during his administration in Kaduna State between 2015 and 2023.
Meanwhile, in the charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, the DSS claimed el-Rufa’i breached the Cybercrimes Prohibition Act, (2024), and the Nigerian Communications Act (2003.)
El-Rufa’i, an ADC chieftain, who was also a former minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, was in count-1 alleged to have, on February 13, while appearing as a guest on a television programme in Abuja, did admit during the interview that he and his cohorts unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the NSA, Nuhu Ribaɗu. The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
The DSS in count-2, alleged that el-Rufa’i had on February 13, while appearing as a guest on a television programme in Abuja, did state during the interview that he knew and related with certain individual, who unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of NSA, without reporting the said individual to relevant security agencies.
In the third count, the former governor was accused alongside others “still at large”, to have sometime in 2026, in Abuja, did use technical equipment or systems which compromised public safety, national security and instilling reasonable apprehension of insecurity among Nigerians by unlawfully intercepting NSA’s phone communications.
The act, which the DSS said the ex-governor admitted during an interview on February 13, on the television programme in Abuja “and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 131(2) Nigerian Communications Act 2003”.
The former governor had, during the interview, claimed that he overheard Ribaɗu directing security operatives to detain him, linking the alleged directive to an attempted arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on February 12. after his return from Cairo, Egypt.
The EFCC had detained el-Rufa’i between Monday morning and Wednesday evening, for interrogation by its investigators. However, after his release from EFCC custody, he was immediately arrested by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), “in connection with ongoing investigations”.
ICPC’s spokesperson, John Odey, who had confirmed this to newsmen on Wednesday night, however declined questions on how long el-Rufa’i would remain in their custody.
The unfolding developments mark one of the most high-profile legal challenges faced by the former governor since leaving office in 2023.
