BREAKING: Federal Govt To Arraign El-Rufai Over Alleged Phone Tapping Of NSA Ribadu At Abuja Federal High Court

Abuja, Nigeria — The Federal Government has set to arraign a former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations bordering on the unlawful interception of the phone communications of Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

Court documents exclusively obtained by Afrika Eyes show that the suit, marked FHC/CR/99/2026, was filed by the Federal Republic of Nigeria against El-Rufai, aged 65, and dated February 16, 2026.

According to the charge sheet, the former governor is to be docked at the Federal High Court of Nigeria, where he will answer to a three-count criminal charge relating to cybercrime and national security violations.

In Count One, the prosecution alleges that El-Rufai, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV Station’s Prime Time programme in Abuja on February 13, 2026, admitted that he and his associates unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the National Security Adviser.

The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.

The court document further accuses El-Rufai of admitting during the same television interview that he had knowledge of, and relationships with, individuals who intercepted the NSA’s phone communications without reporting them to relevant security agencies. Prosecutors say this omission constitutes an offence under Section 27(b) of the amended Cybercrimes Act.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government alleges that El-Rufai, together with others still at large, used technical equipment or systems to unlawfully intercept the NSA’s communications, an action said to have compromised public safety and national security and instilled fear among Nigerians. This count is anchored on Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.

The charge sheet lists Ernest O.M., Owan Esq., U.M. Bulla Esq., C.S. Eze, PhD, and E.G. Orubor Esq. as counsel to the prosecution from the Department of State Services (DSS).

“COUNT ONE, 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 offerice contrary to and punishable under Section 131 (2) Nigerian Communications Act 2003.”