The Federal Government has filed criminal charges against former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El‑Rufai, over the alleged interception of the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The charge, marked C2/99/2026 and dated February 16, 2026, lists the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the complainant and El-Rufai, 65, as the defendant.
According to court documents, the prosecution alleged that on February 13, 2026, during an appearance on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme in Abuja, El-Rufai admitted that he and others unlawfully intercepted Ribadu’s phone communications.
In count one, the Federal Government said the alleged admission constitutes an offence punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
Count two alleges that El-Rufai acknowledged knowing and associating with individuals who intercepted the NSA’s communications but failed to report them to the appropriate security agencies, contrary to Section 27(b) of the same Act.
The third count accuses El-Rufai and others still at large of using technical equipment in Abuja in 2026 to unlawfully intercept the NSA’s communications, an act the prosecution said compromised public safety and national security, in violation of Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
