The Department of State Services has scheduled the arraignment of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, before the Federal High Court in Abuja for February 25.
He faces allegations of cybercrime and threats to national security.
The case, numbered FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, was assigned to Justice Joyce Abdulmalik by the Chief Judge of the court, Justice John Tsoho, who also set the date for El-Rufai’s formal appearance.
On Monday, the DSS filed a three-count criminal charge against the ex-governor, claiming he unlawfully intercepted the telephone lines of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
The agency alleged that El-Rufai’s conduct violated the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
In the first count, “the DSS alleged that the former governor, on February 13, 2026, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, admitted during the interview that he and others unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the NSA, an offence said to be contrary to, and punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.”
The second count stated, “El-Rufai was accused of stating during the same television interview that he knew and related with an individual who unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s phone communications without reporting the person to relevant security agencies.”
The DSS said this alleged offence is punishable under Section 27(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
During the live interview, El-Rufai claimed that he overheard Ribadu instructing security operatives to detain him, linking the alleged directive to what he described as an attempted arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on February 12, upon his return from Cairo, Egypt.
After being questioned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in connection with an alleged N432 billion fraud, El-Rufai was granted administrative bail around 8 p.m. on Wednesday.
However, he was reportedly taken into custody by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission shortly after his release.
