The Department of State Services (DSS) has scheduled February 25 for the arraignment of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged cybercrime and national security breaches.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, was assigned to Justice Joyce Abdulmalik by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, who fixed the date for the defendant’s formal arraignment.
The DSS on Monday filed a three-count charge against El-Rufai, accusing him of unlawfully intercepting the telephone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
According to the charge sheet, the alleged offences contravene provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
In the first count, the DSS alleged that El-Rufai, during an appearance on Prime Time on Arise TV on February 13, 2026, admitted that he and others intercepted the NSA’s phone communications — an act said to be punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes Amendment Act, 2024.
In the second count, he was accused of stating during the same interview that he knew and had dealings with an individual who unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s communications but failed to report the matter to relevant security authorities. The DSS said this allegation is punishable under Section 27(b) of the same Act.
During the live interview, El-Rufai had claimed that he overheard Ribadu directing 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 upon his return from Cairo, Egypt.
The former governor was granted administrative bail around 8 p.m. on Wednesday after being questioned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with an alleged N432 billion fraud case.
However, shortly after his release, he was reportedly taken into custody by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), adding another layer to the mounting legal challenges facing the former governor.
