Ex- Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, is set to face a Federal High Court in Abuja on February 25 over alleged cybercrime offences, as the Federal Government accuses him of unlawfully intercepting the telephone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, in a move said to threaten national security.
The three-count charge was filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) and assigned to Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.
According to the prosecution, El-Rufai allegedly collaborated with other individuals currently at large to intercept the NSA’s calls, in violation of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
The former governor, who also served as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, is accused in one count of admitting involvement in the alleged interception during a February 3 appearance on Prime Time, a programme aired on Arise Television. This alleged act violates Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes Act.
In a second count, the prosecution alleges that El-Rufai, described as a leading figure among opposition politicians critical of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, had knowledge of the unlawful interception but failed to report it to the relevant authorities.
The third count accuses him of using technical equipment to intercept the NSA’s calls in a manner that endangered public safety and created “reasonable apprehension” among Nigerians, contrary to Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
El-Rufai is currently in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), after being taken into custody on February 18 following two nights with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
