A Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled April 23 for the arraignment of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai over allegations of cybercrime and unlawful interception of communications, brought by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The case was adjourned on Wednesday after El-Rufai failed to appear in court. DSS counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye (SAN), explained that the former governor was still being investigated by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on separate matters and requested the matter be adjourned to March 23.
El-Rufai’s lawyer, Oluwole Iyamu, did not object to the adjournment but strongly requested bail, citing legal precedents. DSS opposed the bail, arguing it was premature and that bail could only be considered after formal arraignment. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik declined the bail request, noting the court was not yet formally seized of the case.
The three-count charge alleges that on February 13, during an appearance on Arise TV Station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, El-Rufai admitted that he and others unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, in violation of Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.
In the second count, El-Rufai was accused of admitting knowledge of individuals who intercepted the NSA’s communications without reporting them to security agencies, breaching Section 27(b) of the Cybercrimes Act, 2024.
The third count charges El-Rufai and others with using technical equipment to compromise public safety and national security, creating apprehension of insecurity among Nigerians, contrary to Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, based on his admission during the same interview.
