The State Security Service (SSS) will arraign former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai on February 25 over alleged cybercrime and breaches of national security, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court (FHC) fixed the date after the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho, assigned the case to her.
The SSS filed a three-count criminal charge against El-Rufai, alleging his involvement in the interception of telephone communications belonging to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu. The charges, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, claim that El-Rufai violated provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act 2024 and the Nigerian Communications Act 2003.
Count one alleges that on February 13, during an appearance on Arise TV’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, El-Rufai admitted that he and associates unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s phone communications. Count two claims he was aware of an individual who conducted similar interceptions without reporting the matter to the authorities. Count three alleges that El-Rufai and others used technical systems to compromise public safety and national security, creating apprehension among citizens.
The SSS maintains that El-Rufai’s statements during the TV interview constituted offences under Section 12(1) and Section 27(b) of the Cybercrimes Act, as well as Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act.
El-Rufai had claimed on the programme that he overheard the NSA allegedly directing security operatives to detain him, linking the directive to an attempted arrest at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on February 12, following his return from Cairo, Egypt.
Separately, El-Rufai was detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday over corruption allegations and was granted administrative bail on Wednesday evening. He was reportedly taken into custody immediately by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which confirmed his detention in connection with ongoing investigations.
