The Federal Government has instituted 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 charges, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja under suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, list the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the complainant and El-Rufai as the sole defendant.
According to court documents obtained by Insightlinks, the case stems from comments allegedly made by El-Rufai during an appearance on Prime Time on Arise TV on February 13, 2026. During the televised interview in Abuja, prosecutors claim the former governor admitted that he and others unlawfully intercepted Ribadu’s telephone conversations.
In the first count, the Federal Government argues that the alleged admission constitutes an offence under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, which criminalises unlawful interception of electronic communications.
The second count alleges that El-Rufai acknowledged knowing and associating with individuals involved in the interception but failed to report them to the appropriate security authorities. Prosecutors say this omission violates Section 27(b) of the same Cybercrimes Amendment Act.
In the third count, the government further alleges that El-Rufai, alongside others said to be at large, used technical devices or systems in Abuja in 2026 to unlawfully intercept the National Security Adviser’s communications. The act, according to the charge, posed a threat to public safety and national security. This allegation is said to contravene Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
As of the time of filing this report, the court had yet to fix a date for El-Rufai’s arraignment. The development is expected to draw significant political and legal attention in the coming days.
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