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The former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai is to be prosecuted for his role in the interception of the telephone conversation of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
The Federal Government filed charges El-Rufai who said in a viral video he knew someone who tapped the NSA’s phone conversation.
The complainant, the Federal Government of Nigeria filed the charges, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, before the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, against El-Rufai as defendant.
In a television interview on Friday, 13th February, 2026, El-Rufai admitted that he and others unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the NSA, Nuhu Ribadu.I
In count one, according to the Federal Government, it is alleged that the admission amounts to an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
Count two alleges that the former governor stated during the same interview that he knew and related with individuals who unlawfully intercepted Ribadu’s phone communications but failed to report them to relevant security agencies, contrary to Section 27(b) of the Cybercrimes Amendment Act, 2024.
The third count also claimed that El-Rufai and others still at large, sometime in 2026 in Abuja, used technical equipment or systems to unlawfully intercept the National Security Adviser’s phone communications, an act said to have compromised public safety and national security, contrary to Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
The offence in count three was said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
