FG to Arraign El-Rufai Under Cyber Crime Act for Allegedly Tapping NSA’s Phone Communications
The Federal Government has concluded plans to arraign African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain and immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El -Rufai for an unauthorised interception of phone communications of National Security Adviser, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu.
In a suit filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja marked FHC/CR/99/2026 and dated February 16, 2026, the former Kaduna governor is charged under section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes Act for “ unlawfully intercepting the phone communications of the NSA.”
ccording to the documents, the prosecution alleges that El-Rufai made incriminating admissions during a televised interview on February 13, 2026, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme in Abuja.
Count One alleges that the former governor admitted to unlawfully intercepting the phone communications of the NSA, an act said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024
According to the charge sheey, “Count one: states, That you, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, adult, male, on 13th February, 2026, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV Station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, did admit during the interview that you and your cohorts unlawfully intercepted the Phone Communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 12 (1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment, Act, 2024.
“Count two: That you, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, adult, male, on 13th February, 2026, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV Station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, did state during the interview that you know and relate with certain individual, who unlawfully intercepted the Phone Communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, without reporting the said individual to relevant Security agencies and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 27 (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment, Act, 2024.
“Count three: That you, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, adult, male, and other still at large, sometime in 2026, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, with others still at large did use technical equipment or systems which compromised public safety, national security and instilling reasonable apprehension of insecurity among Nigerians by unlawfully intercepting the Phone Communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to which you admitted during an interview on 13th February, 2026, on Arise TV Station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 131 (2) Nigerian Communications Act 2003.”
The government, according to charges seem to solely rely on the words of Mr. El Rufai for the prosecution.
