DSS charges El-Rufai over admitted phone tapping of NSA

Abdullateef Fowewe

Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS), acting for the federal government, has filed criminal charges against former Kaduna Governor, Nasir El-Rufai at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The case stems from El-Rufai’s admission on an Arise TV interview on February 13 that he and associates intercepted phone communications of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.

The charge sheet, dated today, accuses El-Rufai of violations under Section 12(1) and 27(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003. Prosecutors claim the acts “compromised public safety and national security and created apprehension among members of the public.”