By Our Correspondent
The Department of State Services (DSS) has filed criminal charges against the immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, over alleged involvement in the unlawful interception of the telephone communications of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
The three-count charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, was filed on Monday before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In the charge, the DSS accused the former governor of violating provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act and the Nigerian Communications Act.
Details of the Charges
According to court documents, the DSS alleged that:
On February 13, 2026, while appearing as a guest on Prime Time programme on Arise TV in Abuja, El-Rufai admitted during the interview that he and others unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the NSA, an act said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
During the same interview, he allegedly stated that he knew and maintained relations with an individual who unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s phone communications without reporting the matter to relevant security agencies, contrary to Section 27(b) of the Act.
The DSS further alleged that El-Rufai and others still at large, sometime in 2026 in Abuja, used technical equipment or systems to unlawfully intercept the communications of the NSA. The action, according to the charge, compromised public safety and national security, and is punishable under Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
The matter is expected to come up for arraignment at a date to be fixed by the court.
