By Ikechukwu Nnochiri
ABUJA-The Federal Government has entered a three-count charge against the former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, alleging that he unlawfully intercepted the phone communication of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
In the charge the FG lodged before the Federal High Court in Abuja, through the Department of State Services (DSS), the erstwhile governor, who also served as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, was said to have committed the crime with some persons that are currently on the run.
FG told the court that the defendant had on February 3 when he appeared as a guest on Arise TV station’s Prime Time program, admitted his complicity to the crime.
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He was accused of committing an offence contrary to and punishable under section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act 2024.
In count-two of the charge, the former governor who is a frontline member of a coalition of opposition politicians that are dissatisfied with President Bola Tinubu’s administration, was said to be aware that someone unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s communications, but failed to report the crime to relevant security agencies.
It was further alleged that by using technical equipment to intercept the NSA’s call, the defendants endangered public safety and national security, as well as instilled “reasonable apprehension” among Nigerians, an offence that was in breach of section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003.
