The Department of State Services has arraigned former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai over alleged breaches of cybercrime laws.
The Federal Government filed a five-count amended charge accusing El-Rufai of unlawfully intercepting and tapping the telephone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, in violation of Nigeria’s cybercrime regulations.
According to court documents, the DSS alleges that the former governor engaged in illegal surveillance activities and committed security breaches. The charges are partly based on statements he reportedly made during a February 13, 2026 interview on Arise TV, where he allegedly discussed intercepting the NSA’s communications.
The amended charges cite provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Amendment) Act, 2024, as well as the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
When the charges were read in court, El-Rufai pleaded not guilty. The prosecution urged the court to fast-track proceedings, stating it would require only a few days to present its case.
Counsel to the defendant raised the issue of bail, which presiding judge Justice Joyce Abdulmalik said would be considered at the next hearing, scheduled for May 18, 2026.
This case is separate from ongoing proceedings instituted by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, which is prosecuting El-Rufai over an alleged ₦11 billion fraud during his tenure as governor.
