ABUJA — The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled February 25, 2026, for the formal arraignment of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on a three-count criminal charge involving cybercrime and threats to national security.
The legal action follows El-Rufai’s recent explosive television interview where he claimed to have intercepted private communications of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
The Charges: A High-Stakes Legal Battle
The Department of State Services (DSS) filed the charges (marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026) after El-Rufai appeared on Arise TV’s Prime Time on February 13. During the broadcast, the former governor alleged he overheard Ribadu directing security operatives to arrest him upon his return from Cairo, Egypt.
According to the charge sheet, the DSS is prosecuting El-Rufai under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
- Count One: Accuses El-Rufai of admitting to the unlawful interception of the NSA’s telephone communications.
- Count Two: Alleges he failed to report individuals involved in the wiretapping to security agencies.
- Count Three: Asserts that the use of technical equipment to compromise the NSA’s lines threatened public safety and national security.
A Week of Legal Turmoil
The scheduled arraignment adds a new layer to El-Rufai’s deepening legal woes. On Monday, he was detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) regarding an alleged N423 billion financial impropriety during his eight-year tenure as governor.
Though granted administrative bail by the EFCC on Wednesday night, he was immediately re-arrested by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). ICPC spokesperson John Odey confirmed he remains in their custody as investigations continue.
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Security and Political Implications
The case has sparked intense debate over surveillance ethics and political stability in Nigeria. Presidential aides have described El-Rufai’s statements as a “confession” of illegal surveillance capabilities, while supporters view the rapid succession of arrests as politically motivated.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik will preside over the arraignment next Wednesday.
