The Department of State Services (DSS) is set to arraign former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, on Wednesday, February 25, over alleged cybercrime and threats to national security.
El-Rufai will appear before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja to answer to a three-count charge filed by the secret police.
The charges stem from allegations that the former governor unlawfully intercepted a telephone conversation involving the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu. The DSS said the alleged act contravenes provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, as well as the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
The development follows el-Rufai’s remarks during an interview last Saturday on Prime Time, an Arise Television programme, where he claimed that “someone wiretapped” Ribadu’s phone and that he listened to the NSA directing security operatives to arrest him.
On Monday, the DSS formalised its case by filing the charges in court, accusing the former governor of illegally intercepting and disclosing a classified communication.
El-Rufai’s legal troubles have deepened in recent days. On February 18, the DSS briefly detained him after he had spent two nights in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He is currently being held by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over alleged corruption during his tenure as governor of Kaduna State.
