EL-RUFAI FACES CHARGES FROM FG FOR INTERCEPTING NSA RIBADU’S PHONE

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By: Fasasi Hammad

The Federal Government has formally filed charges against former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.

The case, registered as FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, was submitted to the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, with the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the complainant and El-Rufai as the defendant.

Court documents reviewed by the media indicate that the prosecution alleges that on February 13, 2026, while appearing 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 the first count, the Federal Government claims that this admission constitutes an offence under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.

The second count alleges that during the same interview, El-Rufai acknowledged knowing individuals who had unlawfully intercepted Ribadu’s communications but failed to report them to the relevant security agencies, in violation of Section 27(b) of the Cybercrimes Amendment Act, 2024.

Count three accuses El-Rufai and others, still at large, of using technical equipment or systems in 2026 in Abuja to unlawfully intercept the NSA’s communications, actions claimed to have compromised public safety and national security, contrary to Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.

As of the filing of this report, no date had been scheduled for El-Rufai’s arraignment.