DSS to arraign ex-Kaduna Gov, El-Rufai, over alleged cybercrime Feb. 25  By Dally Iyamu 

DSS to arraign ex-Kaduna Gov, El-Rufai, over alleged cybercrime Feb. 25 

By Dally Iyamu 

The Department of State Services (DSS) is set to arraign former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on February 25 over alleged cybercrime and breaches of national security, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court (FHC) fixed the arraignment date after the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho, assigned the case to her.

According to NAN, the DSS filed a three-count criminal charge against El-Rufai on Monday, alleging his involvement in wiretapping the telephone lines of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

The case is registered under FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026.
The charges accuse El-Rufai of violating the Cybercrimes Prohibition Act (2024) and the Nigerian Communications Act (2003).

In court, El-Rufai is alleged to have admitted, during a February 13 appearance on Arise TV’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, that he and his associates unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s phone communications.

This allegation forms the basis of count one, which is said to be contrary to Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and punishable under the law.

Count two alleges that, on the same TV programme, El-Rufai admitted knowing an individual who unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s communications but failed to report the person to the relevant security agencies.

This is alleged to contravene Section 27(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.

Count three charges El-Rufai and others, still at large, with using technical equipment or systems in 2026 to compromise public safety and national security, creating a reasonable apprehension of insecurity among Nigerians by unlawfully intercepting the NSA’s communications.

The DSS stated that El-Rufai admitted this conduct during the February 13 interview, which is punishable under Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.

NAN recalls that during the interview, El-Rufai claimed he overheard NSA Ribadu directing security operatives to detain him, linking the alleged directive to an attempted arrest at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on February 12, following his return from Cairo, Egypt.

Meanwhile, the former governor was also detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday over separate allegations of corruption.