The Department of State Services (DSS), is set to arraign former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, before a Federal High Court in Abuja next Wednesday over alleged cybercrime offences and breach of national security laws.
The arraignment will take place before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik following the assignment of the case by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Court documents show that the SSS filed a three-count criminal charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, accusing El-Rufai of offences bordering on unlawful interception of communications and actions allegedly capable of undermining national security.
According to the charge sheet filed on Monday, the security agency alleged that the former governor was involved in the unlawful interception of telephone communications belonging to Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
In the first count, prosecutors claimed that El-Rufai, while appearing as a guest on ARISE TV on February 13, allegedly admitted during a live interview that he and unnamed associates intercepted Ribadu’s phone communications.
The offence was said to contravene Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
The second count accused the former governor of knowingly associating with an individual who allegedly carried out the unlawful interception but failed to report the act to relevant security authorities, an offence punishable under Section 27(b) of the same Act.
In the third count, the SSS alleged that El-Rufai and others still at large deployed technical systems that compromised public safety and national security, thereby creating fear and apprehension among Nigerians through the alleged interception of classified communications.
The fresh charges come amid a series of investigations by multiple federal anti-graft and security agencies.
El-Rufai was earlier detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday over corruption allegations. Although he was granted administrative bail around 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, he was immediately taken into custody by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
ICPC spokesperson, John Odey, confirmed at the time that the former governor remained in the commission’s custody in connection with ongoing investigations.
The agency also conducted a late-night raid on El-Rufai’s Abuja residence located on Aso Drive. ICPC operatives conducted the search as part of what sources described as an expanding anti-corruption probe.
While the agency declined to disclose details of the investigation or items recovered during the operation, El-Rufai’s lawyer, Ubong Akpan, condemned the search, alleging violations of due process and his client’s fundamental rights.
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