The Federal Government has formally filed criminal charges against former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over allegations that he unlawfully intercepted the communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Court documents marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026 list the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the complainant and El-Rufai as the sole defendant.
Case Filed at Federal High Court, Abuja
The charges were filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division.
According to the prosecution, the alleged offence stems from comments El-Rufai reportedly made on February 13, 2026, during an appearance on Prime Time, a programme on Arise TV. During the interview, he is said to have admitted that he and others intercepted the NSA’s phone communications without legal authorisation.
Three-Count Charge
The charges are outlined in three counts:
-
Count One alleges that El-Rufai’s admission violates Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
-
Count Two claims he knowingly associated with individuals involved in the alleged interception but failed to report the matter, contrary to Section 27(b) of the same Act.
-
Count Three states that he and others used technical systems in 2026 to unlawfully access the NSA’s communications, allegedly compromising national security, in violation of Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
As of the time of filing this report, the Federal High Court has yet to fix a date for El-Rufai’s arraignment.
