Cybercrime Charge: El-Rufai Linked to Alleged Phone Tapping Scandal

A former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, is set to be arraigned on February 25 before the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations of cybercrime and breach of national security.

The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, was assigned to Justice Joyce Abdulmalik by the court’s Chief Judge, John Tsoho, who subsequently fixed the date for the arraignment.

Prosecutors allege that El-Rufai unlawfully intercepted the telephone lines of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

The charges, filed by the Department of State Services, accuse the former governor of violating provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, as well as the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.

In the first count, “the DSS alleged that the former governor, on February 13, 2026, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, admitted during the interview that he and others unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the NSA, an offence said to be contrary to, and punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.”

In the second count, Nasir El-Rufai was alleged to have stated during the same television interview that he knew and maintained contact with an individual who unlawfully intercepted the National Security Adviser’s phone communications but failed to report the matter to the appropriate security authorities.

According to the Department of State Services, the alleged offence is punishable under Section 27(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.

During a live interview on Arise TV, El-Rufai claimed he overheard the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, instruct 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 after returning from Cairo, Egypt.

The former governor was later granted administrative bail around 8 p.m. on Wednesday following his detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over questioning in an alleged ₦432bn fraud case.

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