By Adeyemi David
The Department of State Services (DSS) is set to arraign former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, N432bn corruption probe: El-Rufai remains in EFCC custody on February 25 over alleged cybercrime offences and breach of national security.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court fixed the date for the arraignment after the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho, assigned the case to her.
The DSS on Monday filed a three-count criminal chargeMore troubles as ICPC raids El-Rufai’s residence against El-Rufai, accusing him of unlawfully intercepting the telephone communications of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, alleges violations of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
In the first count, the former governor was alleged to have admitted, during a February 13 appearance on Arise TV’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, that he and others unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s phone communications.
The alleged offence is said to contravene Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes Amendment Act, 2024.
The second count accuses El-Rufai of stating during the same interview that he knew and interacted with an individual who unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s communications without reporting the matter to relevant security agencies, an offence punishable under Section 27(b) of the Act.
In count three, the DSS alleged that El-Rufai and others still at large used technical equipment or systems to compromise public safety and national security by intercepting the NSA’s phone communications.
The alleged act is said to be contrary to Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
During the televised interview, El-Rufai had claimed he overheard Ribadu directing security operatives to detain him, linking the alleged directive to an attempted arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on February 12 following his return from Cairo, Egypt.
Meanwhile, the former governor was earlier detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday over separate corruption allegations.
He was granted administrative bail at about 8 p.m. on Wednesday but was reportedly taken into custody shortly after by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Confirming the development, ICPC spokesperson John Odey said in a message shared on a journalists’ WhatsApp group Wednesday night: “Malam Nasiru El-Rufai is in the custody of the commission in connection with ongoing investigations.”
