El-Rufai Faces Phone Interception Charges, Pleads Not Guilty and Seeks Bail

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has been arraigned by the Department of State Services (DSS) before a Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations of unlawfully intercepting the communications of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.

The five-count charge, filed under case number FHC/ABJ/99/2026, accuses El-Rufai of involvement in activities linked to phone tapping and failure to report related offences.

The DSS, through its prosecuting team led by M. E. Ernest, alleged that El-Rufai admitted during a February 13 appearance on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme that he acted “in alignment with others” to intercept the NSA’s communications.

Prosecutors argued that this amounts to a violation of Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.

They further alleged that El-Rufai acknowledged knowing an individual responsible for the interception but failed to notify security agencies, an omission said to breach Section 27(b) of the Act.

In addition, the DSS accused the former governor of collaborating with others still at large to deploy technical means that allegedly compromised national security and created public fear, contrary to Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.

El-Rufai, who also served as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory during the Obasanjo administration, pleaded not guilty before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.

Following his plea, his legal team, led by Oluwole Iyamu (SAN), applied for bail, which is expected to be considered as the case proceeds.

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