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BREAKING: DSS drags El-Rufai to court for intercepting Ribadu’s handset
The prosecution alleges that on February 13, 2026, during an appearance on Arise TV’s Prime Time, El-Rufai admitted to unlawfully intercepting the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The Federal Government has officially filed criminal charges against former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
The case, numbered FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, was lodged at the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, with the Federal Republic of Nigeria as complainant and El-Rufai as defendant.
Court documents obtained by PUNCH Online state that on February 13, 2026, El-Rufai, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme, admitted that he and others unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The charges are divided into three counts:
Count one alleges that El-Rufai’s admission constitutes an offence under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
Count two claims that he knowingly associated with individuals involved in the unlawful interception of the NSA’s communications but failed to report them, contrary to Section 27(b) of the same Cybercrimes Amendment Act.
Count three alleges that El-Rufai and others, still at large, used technical equipment in 2026 to unlawfully intercept Ribadu’s communications, compromising public safety and national security, in violation of Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
No date has yet been fixed for El-Rufai’s arraignment, and further details are awaited.
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