Nigeria;s secret police, the Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned former governor of Kaduna State and African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, Malam Nasir El-Rufai for allegedly illegally breeching and accessing the telephone conversations of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mr. Nuhu Ribadu.
The former governor was arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court Abuja on a 5-count charge in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/99/2026.
The DSS five-man prosecuting team led by M. E. Ernest, alleged that the former governor committed the crime with some acomplices who are currently at large.
The DSS alleged the defendant admitted on February 13 when he appeared as a guest on Arise TV Station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, that he aligned with others and unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the NSA, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.
The security agency further alleged that the defendant had in the course of the television interview, stated that he knew and related to a certain individual who had unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s telephone communications without reporting the person to the relevant security agencies.
By failing to report the crime, El-Rufai was said to have committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 27 (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition , Prevention, etc) Amendment, Act, 2024.
El Rufai was also accused of committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 131 (2) Nigerian Communications Act 2003.
Meanwhile, the former governor pleaded not guilty to the charge that was read to him before trial Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.