THE Department of State Services (DSS) has fixed February 25 for the arraignment of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged cybercrime and breach of national security.
News Point Nigeria reports that the case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, was assigned to Justice Joyce Abdulmalik by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, John Tsoho, who subsequently scheduled the date for the defendant’s arraignment.
The DSS on Monday filed a three-count criminal charge against the former governor, accusing him of unlawfully intercepting the telephone lines of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
According to the charge sheet, the alleged actions contravene provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, as well as the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
In the first count, the DSS alleged that El-Rufai, on February 13, 2026, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, admitted during the live broadcast that he and others unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the NSA.
The offence, the prosecution argued, is contrary to and punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
In count two, the former governor was accused of stating during the same television interview that he knew and had dealings with an individual who unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s phone communications but failed to report the act to relevant security agencies.
The DSS maintained that the alleged offence is punishable under Section 27(b) of the amended Cybercrimes Act.
During the Arise TV interview, El-Rufai had claimed that he overheard Ribadu directing security operatives to detain him. He linked the alleged directive to what he described as an attempted arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on February 12, upon his return from Cairo, Egypt.
The former governor’s remarks triggered widespread debate, prompting the DSS to initiate legal action.
El-Rufai’s legal troubles deepened earlier in the week when he was detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for questioning in connection with an alleged ₦432 billion fraud case.
He was reportedly granted administrative bail at about 8 p.m. on Wednesday.
However, shortly after his release from EFCC custody, he was said to have been taken into custody by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for further questioning.
As of the time of filing this report, neither El-Rufai nor his legal representatives had issued an official statement responding to the DSS charges.