The Federal Government has instituted criminal proceedings against former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over allegations that he unlawfully intercepted phone communications belonging to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
The charge, filed before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, listed the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the complainant, with El-Rufai, 65, named as the sole defendant.
In the charge dated February 16, 2026, and signed by the prosecution counsel from the Department of State Services (DSS), it was alleged that the former governor admitted to the interception during a television interview.
According to the charge, the alleged offence occurred on February 13, 2026, when El-Rufai appeared as a guest on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme in Abuja.
In the first count, the Federal Government accused the former governor of admitting during the interview that he and others unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s phone communications, contrary to Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
The second count alleged that El-Rufai acknowledged knowing individuals involved in the interception but failed to report them to relevant security agencies, an offence punishable under Section 27 of the same Act.
In the third count, the government further accused him and other persons still at large of deploying technical equipment or systems to unlawfully intercept Ribadu’s communications in a manner that allegedly compromised public safety and national security, contrary to Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
The prosecution claimed that the alleged actions created apprehension of insecurity among Nigerians.
The development follows recent calls by the Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, for a thorough investigation into El-Rufai’s claims that Ribadu’s phone line had been tapped.
Onanuga, in a post on his X account last week, warned that the allegation carried serious national security implications and urged relevant authorities to determine how the purported surveillance occurred and who may have been responsible.
As of the time of filing this report, no date had been announced for El-Rufai’s arraignment.
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