Breaking ..FG arraigns El-Rufai over alleged interception of NSA Ribadu’s phone calls

By Johnson Arua

The Federal Government has filed a three-count criminal charge against former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, accusing him of unlawfully intercepting the telephone communications of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

The charge, instituted before the Federal High Court in Abuja by the Department of State Services (DSS), also alleges that the former governor carried out the act in collaboration with unnamed accomplices who are currently at large.

According to court documents, the government claimed that El-Rufai made admissions relating to the alleged offence during an appearance on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme on February 3.

The prosecution contends that the statements amounted to an acknowledgment of involvement in the unlawful interception.

The former governor, who also served as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, is accused of violating Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.

The section criminalises the unlawful interception of electronic communications.

In the second count, the Federal Government alleged that El-Rufai was aware that the NSA’s communications had been illegally intercepted but failed to notify the appropriate security authorities, an omission it described as an offence under the law.

The prosecution further claimed that the use of technical devices to intercept the NSA’s calls posed a threat to public safety and national security. It argued that the alleged action created “reasonable apprehension” among members of the public.

Additionally, the charge cited a violation of Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, which prohibits the unlawful interception of communications.

As of the time of filing this report, no date had been announced for the former governor’s arraignment.