The Federal Government has instituted criminal proceedings against former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, at the Federal High Court.
The case, filed under charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, lists the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the complainant and El-Rufai as the sole defendant.
Court papers obtained by journalists indicate that prosecutors are relying on statements allegedly made by El-Rufai during a February 13, 2026, appearance on an Arise Television programme in Abuja.
In the broadcast, he was said to have acknowledged involvement, alongside others, in the unlawful interception of the telephone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
In the first count, the government contends that the alleged admission constitutes an offence under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
The second count accuses El-Rufai of admitting knowledge of persons involved in the illegal interception of Ribadu’s communications without reporting them to appropriate security authorities, an action prosecutors say violates Section 27(b) of the same law.
A third charge alleges that El-Rufai, together with unnamed collaborators still at large, deployed technical devices within Abuja in 2026 to unlawfully monitor the National Security Adviser’s phone communications.
The prosecution argues that the act undermined public safety and national security, contrary to Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
No date has yet been scheduled for his arraignment as of the time of this report.
