Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, is slated for arraignment on February 25 by the State Security Service (SSS), also known as the Department of State Services (DSS), before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja. The arraignment will address alleged cybercrime and breach of national security. The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, assigned the case to Justice Abdulmalik for the specified date.

The DSS had on Monday filed a three-count criminal charge against Mr. El-Rufai, following his alleged involvement in wiretapping the telephone lines of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu. The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, accuses the former governor of breaching the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.

In the first count, Mr. El-Rufai is alleged to have, on February 13, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, admitted that he and his cohorts unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of NSA Ribadu. This offence is stated to be contrary to and punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.

Count two further alleges that on the same date, February 13, during his appearance on Arise TV, the ex-governor stated he knew and related with a certain individual who unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s phone communications, without reporting this individual to relevant security agencies. This is deemed contrary to and punishable under Section 27(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.

The third count accuses Mr. El-Rufai and others still at large, sometime in 2026, in Abuja, of using technical equipment or systems that compromised public safety and national security, thereby instilling reasonable apprehension of insecurity among Nigerians, by unlawfully intercepting NSA’s phone communications. The DSS asserts that this act, which Mr. El-Rufai admitted during the February 13 interview, is contrary to and punishable under Section 131(2) Nigerian Communications Act 2003.

During the live interview on Arise News, Mr. El-Rufai claimed he overheard NSA Ribadu directing security operatives to detain him. He linked this alleged directive to an attempted arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on February 12, following his return from Cairo, Egypt.

Prior to the DSS arraignment, Mr. El-Rufai had been in the custody of other anti-graft agencies. He was detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from Monday morning to Wednesday evening over allegations of corruption and fraud amounting to over N440 billion during his administration in Kaduna State. After being granted administrative bail by the EFCC, he was immediately taken into custody by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in connection with "ongoing investigations," a development confirmed by ICPC Spokesperson John Odey. Some reports indicate he spent two nights with the EFCC before being transferred to ICPC custody.