The Department of State Services (DSS) has scheduled February 25 for the arraignment of a former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, before the Federal High Court over alleged cybercrime and threats to national security.
Court documents show the case, numbered FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, was assigned to Joyce Abdulmalik following approval by the Chief Judge, John Tsoho, who fixed the arraignment date.
The DSS said it filed a three-count charge on Monday, accusing El-Rufai of unlawfully intercepting telephone communications belonging to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
According to the charge, the alleged acts violate provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, as well as the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
In the first count, the secret police alleged that El-Rufai, during a televised interview in Abuja on February 13, 2026, admitted that he and others intercepted the NSA’s phone communications, an offence said to be punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes Amendment Act, 2024.
A second count accuses the former governor of stating in the same interview that he knew and had dealings with a person who unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s communications without reporting the matter to relevant security agencies, an offence the DSS said is punishable under Section 27(b) of the Act.
The court is expected to take El-Rufai’s plea when proceedings begin on February 25.
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