The Department of State Services (DSS) has formally charged former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, with alleged cybercrime and breaches of national security.
He is scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday, February 25, before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
El-Rufai was briefly detained by the DSS on February 18, following two nights in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Reports indicate that he claimed his phone intercepted conversations involving the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, which allegedly revealed plans for his arrest.
The DSS has filed a three-count charge against the former governor. The first count alleges that on February 13, while appearing on Arise Television, El-Rufai admitted to unlawfully intercepting the NSA’s communications, contrary to Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
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The second count charges him with knowingly associating with individuals who intercepted NSA communications without reporting them, in violation of Section 27(b) of the Cybercrimes Act.
The third count alleges that El-Rufai and others still at large used technical equipment to compromise public safety and national security by intercepting NSA communications, a violation of the Cybercrimes Act and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
El-Rufai has previously faced detention by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over alleged corruption during his tenure as Kaduna State Governor.
The arraignment on February 25 is expected to clarify the allegations and determine the next steps in the legal proceedings against him.
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