The legal walls are closing in on the former Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, as the Department of State Services (DSS) prepares to formally arraign him before a Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.
The “Accidental Public Servant” now faces a three-count criminal charge (FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026) involving alleged cybercrime, breach of national security, and the unlawful interception of telephone communications belonging to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
The DSS case rests heavily on El-Rufai’s own words during a live interview on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme on February 13.
El-Rufai allegedly admitted to intercepting the NSA’s phone lines. He claimed he “overheard” Ribadu directing security operatives to detain him following his return from Cairo, Egypt, on Feb 12.
The prosecution argues that using technical equipment to compromise the communications of the nation’s top security officer constitutes a massive breach of the Cybercrimes Prohibition Act (2024) and the Nigerian Communications Act (2003).
THE THREE-COUNT CHARGE: A Breakdown
| Count | Allegation | Law Violated |
| 01 | Unlawful interception of NSA Nuhu Ribadu’s phone communications. | Section 12(1), Cybercrimes Act 2024 |
| 02 | Failing to report cohorts who unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s communications. | Section 27(b), Cybercrimes Act 2024 |
| 03 | Using technical equipment to compromise public safety and national security. | Section 131(2), Nigerian Communications Act 2003 |
El-Rufai’s legal troubles are multi-layered. While the DSS handles the security breach, other anti-graft agencies are pursuing him for financial misconduct:
EFCC Detention: On Monday, he was detained by the EFCC over corruption allegations. He was granted administrative bail by Wednesday evening.
ICPC Takeover: Immediately upon his release by the EFCC, he was picked up by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).
Ongoing Investigation: ICPC spokesperson, John Odey, confirmed that El-Rufai remains in their custody as part of an ongoing investigation into his 8-year tenure as Kaduna Governor.
The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, has assigned the DSS case to Justice Joyce Abdulmalik. The arraignment on February 25 is expected to be a high-stakes event, with legal analysts watching to see if the former governor’s “whistleblowing” defense holds up against the strict provisions of the 2024 Cybercrime amendments.
SOURCE: NAN
