The Department of State Services (DSS) is set to arraign former Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, on Wednesday, February 25, over allegations of cybercrime and breach of national security.
El-Rufai will appear before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja to answer to a three-count charge filed by the secret police. The charges stem from allegations that he unlawfully intercepted a telephone conversation involving Nuhu Ribadu, Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA).
The case follows comments made by el-Rufai during an interview on ARISE NEWS. In the interview, the former governor claimed that “someone wiretapped” Ribadu’s phone, enabling him to listen to the NSA allegedly directing security operatives to carry out his arrest.
On Monday, the DSS formally filed charges, accusing el-Rufai of intercepting the NSA’s telephone conversation in violation of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003. The agency maintains that the alleged actions constitute serious breaches of national security.
The arraignment comes amid mounting legal troubles for the former governor. On February 18, the DSS briefly took el-Rufai into custody after he had spent two nights at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC).
He is also currently in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over separate allegations of corruption during his tenure as governor of Kaduna State.
The forthcoming court proceedings are expected to further intensify scrutiny surrounding el-Rufai’s political and legal battles, as multiple investigations by Nigeria’s anti-graft and security agencies continue to unfold.
Melissa Enoch
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