The Federal High Court in Abuja has officially assigned a judge and set a date for the arraignment of the immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, over alleged cybercrime activities and breach of national security.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court will preside over the case after the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho, assigned the matter to her. The court has scheduled the former governor’s arraignment for February 25, 2026.
El-Rufai is set to be brought before the court by the Department of State Services (DSS) to face a three-count criminal charge. The charge, filed by the Nigerian secret police and marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, accuses the former governor of violating the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
The charges stem from allegations that El-Rufai was involved in the unlawful interception of telephone communications belonging to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
According to court documents, the first count alleges that El-Rufai, during a live interview on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme on February 13, 2026, in Abuja, admitted to unlawfully intercepting the NSA’s phone communications with his cohorts. This offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes Act.
In the second count, the ex-governor is accused of failing to report individuals involved in the wiretapping. The DSS alleges that during the same television appearance, El-Rufai admitted to knowing individuals who unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s calls but did not report them to the relevant security agencies. This contravenes Section 27(b) of the Cybercrimes Act.
The third and final count alleges that El-Rufai and others still at large, at some point in 2026 in Abuja, used technical equipment to compromise public safety and national security by unlawfully intercepting the NSA’s phone communications. The DSS claims this act, which the former governor admitted to on live television, is punishable under Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003.
The case against El-Rufai was triggered by his own statements during the Arise TV interview, in which he claimed to have overheard NSA Ribadu directing security operatives to detain him. This allegation was linked to an attempted arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on February 12, following his return from Cairo, Egypt.
This latest legal action comes amidst a series of other ongoing investigations involving the former governor. El-Rufai was detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) earlier this week over separate corruption allegations. He was granted administrative bail by the EFCC on Wednesday evening but was immediately taken into custody by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
John Odey, the ICPC’s Spokesperson, confirmed El-Rufai’s detention by the anti-graft commission, stating in a message on Wednesday night that he is in their custody “in connection with ongoing investigations.”
NAN
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