The Department of State Services has slated February 25 for the arraignment of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged cybercrime and threats to national security.
The matter, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, was assigned to Justice Joyce Abdulmalik by the Chief Judge of the court, John Tsoho, who subsequently fixed the date for the defendant’s arraignment.
In a three-count charge filed on Monday, the DSS accused El-Rufai of unlawfully intercepting telephone communications belonging to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
According to the secret police, the alleged acts violate provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, as well as the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
In the first count, the prosecution alleged that the former governor, on February 13, 2026, during an appearance on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme in Abuja, admitted that he and unnamed individuals intercepted the NSA’s phone conversations.
The offence, the DSS said, is contrary to Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and is punishable under the same law.
During the live television interview, El-Rufai had claimed he overheard Ribadu instructing security operatives to detain him.
He linked the alleged directive to what he described as an attempted arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on February 12, shortly after his return from Cairo, Egypt.
The former governor was later granted administrative bail around 8 p.m. on Wednesday following his detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over a separate alleged N432bn fraud case.
However, shortly after regaining his freedom, he was reportedly taken into custody by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.