The Department of State Services (DSS) has filed criminal charges against former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over his alleged involvement in the interception of telephone communications belonging to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
The three-count charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, was filed on Monday before the Federal High Court in Abuja. The secret police accused El-Rufai of breaching provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
Details of the Charges
According to court documents, the DSS alleged that El-Rufai made admissions during a televised interview that implicated him in unlawful interception of communications.
The first count reads:
“That you, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, adult, male, on 13th February, 2026, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, did admit during the interview that you and your cohorts unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment, Act, 2024.”
In the second count, the DSS alleged that El-Rufai acknowledged knowing an individual who intercepted the NSA’s phone lines but failed to report the matter to security agencies.
“That you, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, adult, male, on 13t February, 2026, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, did state during the interview that you know and relate with certain individual, who unlawfully intercepted the Phone Communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, without reporting the said individual to relevant Security agencies and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 27 (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment, Act, 2024.”
The third count alleges a broader conspiracy involving others said to be at large.
”That you, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, adult, male, and other still at large, sometime in 2026, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, with others still at large did use technical equipment or systems which compromised public safety, national security and instilling reasonable apprehension of insecurity among Nigerians by unlawfully intercepting the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to which you admitted during an interview on 13th February, 2026, on Arise TV station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 131(2) Nigerian Communications Act 2003.”
Background
The charges stem from comments El-Rufai made during an appearance on Arise Television, where he claimed that a source had intercepted Ribadu’s telephone conversation.
The filing of the case marks a significant escalation in the dispute between the former governor and security authorities.
A date for arraignment is expected to be fixed by the court.
