The Department of State Services (DSS) has filed a three-count charge before the Federal High Court in Abuja against former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, over his involvement in the unlawful interception of telephone communications belonging to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, was filed early Monday and accuses El-Rufai of violating the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
In count one, the DSS stated that El-Rufai, during an appearance on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme in Abuja on February 13, 2026, admitted to unlawfully intercepting Ribadu’s phone communications.
“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,” the charge read.
The second count accuses the former governor of failing to report individuals involved in the illegal surveillance.
“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.”
The third count alleges that El-Rufai and others still at large used technical equipment to compromise national security.
“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 offence contrary to and punishable under Section 131(2) Nigerian Communications Act 2003.”
Passport Seized, Travel Plans Thwarted
In a related development, the DSS on Monday morning seized El-Rufai’s passport shortly after he turned himself in at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja.
A senior DSS official told Aminiya that the action was taken to prevent the former governor from returning to Egypt, where he had been residing.
“El-Rufai knew he was being investigated for Dadiyata’s disappearance. That is why he planned to contact the EFCC and ICPC before returning to Cairo. But the seizure of his passport thwarted his plan,” the source said.
The passport seizure comes amid renewed investigation on the disappearance of Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata, a lecturer at the Federal University, Dutsinma, Katsina State. Dadiyata was abducted from his Kaduna residence on August 1, 2019, and has not been seen since.
In his Arise TV interview, El-Rufai denied involvement, claiming Dadiyata’s disappearance was linked to his criticism of former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.
“I have nothing to do with him. His problem is Ganduje. If anyone is to be questioned over his disappearance, it is Kano, not Kaduna,” El-Rufai said.
However, a DSS official said the agency is now investigating El-Rufai and his two sons in connection with the case.
“Dadiyata’s disappearance has attracted international attention. However, El-Rufai has never disclosed this information to the security establishment,” the official said.
The former governor remains in Nigeria as legal proceedings unfold.
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