The Federal Government has filed a three-count charge of cybercrime against former Kaduna State Governor and ex-Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nasir El-Rufai, accusing him of unlawfully intercepting and publicly admitting to accessing the communications of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
According to court documents filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, the government, acting through the Department of State Services (DSS), alleges that El-Rufai’s statements during a television interview last week amounted to offences under Nigeria’s Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2024 and the Nigerian Communications Act 2003.
The charges include:
Illegal interception of electronic communications contrary to Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes Act.
Failure to report knowledge of unlawful interception to security authorities under Section 27 of the Cybercrimes Act.
Using technical means to intercept communications in a way that threatened national security and public safety under Section 131(2) of the Communications Act.
Prosecutors told the court that El-Rufai, on February 13, admitted during an appearance on a televised programme that he and others had access to the NSA’s phone communications and failed to notify relevant authorities.
No arraignment date has been set yet, and El-Rufai’s legal team has not publicly responded to the filings.
This development adds to ongoing tensions between El-Rufai and the current federal authorities following his controversial remarks about national security operations.
