The Federal Government has filed criminal charges against a former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, over alleged unlawful interception of phone communications.
The charges, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, were instituted before the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, by the Federal Republic of Nigeria as complainant, with El-Rufai listed as the sole defendant.
According to court documents, the prosecution alleged that on February 13, 2026, while featuring as a guest on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme in Abuja, El-Rufai admitted that he and others unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
In count one, the Federal Government argued that the alleged admission constitutes an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
Count two alleged that during the same interview, the former governor stated that he knew and associated with individuals who unlawfully intercepted Ribadu’s phone communications but failed to report them to the relevant security agencies.
The prosecution said the act contravenes Section 27(b) of the Cybercrimes Amendment Act, 2024.
In count three, the Federal Government further alleged that El-Rufai and others now at large, sometime in 2026 in Abuja, used technical equipment or systems to unlawfully intercept the National Security Adviser’s phone communications. The act was said to have compromised public safety and national security, contrary to Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
The offence in count three is also said to be punishable under Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
As of the time of filing this report, no date had been fixed for El-Rufai’s arraignment.
Details later…
