The Federal Government has filed criminal charges against former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, at the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged unlawful interception of the phone communications of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
According to the charge sheet dated February 16, 2026, El-Rufai is accused of admitting during a television interview that he and his associates intercepted the communications of the NSA.
In Count One, the prosecution alleges that El-Rufai, during an appearance on Arise TV’s Prime Time Programme on February 13, 2026, admitted to unlawfully intercepting the phone communications of Ribadu.
The charge states that the alleged act contravenes Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
Count Two alleges that during the same interview, El-Rufai stated that he knew and related with an individual who unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s phone communications but failed to report the individual to relevant security agencies.
In Count Three, the Federal Government alleges that El-Rufai and others still at large, sometime in 2026 in Abuja, used technical equipment or systems that compromised public safety and national security by unlawfully intercepting the NSA’s communications.
The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
The charge sheet indicates that the prosecution is being handled by counsel to the Department of State Services (DSS), with the matter filed within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
As of the time of filing this report, no date has been publicly announced for the arraignment of the defendant.
