*As ICPC raids residence in Abuja
WorldStage– The Department of State Services (DSS) will on Feb 25, arraign former Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State on alleged cybercrime and breach of national security.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court (FHC) fixed the date after the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho, assigned the case to her.
The DSS had on Monday, filed a three-count criminal charge against El-Rufai following his alleged involvement in wiretapping the telephone lines of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Ngpfvuhu Ribadu.
The charge, instituted by the Nigerian secret police, is marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026.
The service accused El-Rufai of breaching the Cybercrimes Prohibition Act, (2024), and the Nigerian Communications Act (2003.)
In count on, El Rufai was alleged to have, on Feb. 13, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, did admit during the interview that he and his cohorts unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the NSA, Mr Ribadu.
The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment, Act, 2024.
In count two, the ex-governor was alleged to have, on Feb. 13, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, did state during the interview that he knew and related with certain individual, who unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of NSA, without reporting the said individual to relevant security agencies.
The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 27 (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment, Act, 2024.
Count three alleged that El Rufai and others still at large, sometime in 2026, in Abuja, did use technical equipment or systems which compromised public safety, national security and instilling reasonable apprehension of insecurity among Nigerians by unlawfully intercepting NSA’s phone communications.
The act, which the DSS said, the ex-governor admitted during an interview on Feb. 13th 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.”
El-Rufai had, during a live interview on the TV station, claimed he overheard Mr Ribadu directing security operatives to detain him, linking the alleged directive to an attempted arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Feb. 12y after his return from Cairo, Egypt.
The former governor was detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday over corruption allegations.
He was granted administrative bail at about 8 p.m. on Wednesday but was said to have been immediately taken into custody by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The ICPC’s Spokesperson, John Odey, who confirmed the development in a message shared on a journalist’s Whatsapp group Wednesday night, simply said: “Malam Nasiru El-Rufai is in the custody of the commission in connection with ongoing investigations.”
RESIDENCE
Operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had on Thursday conducted a search at the residence of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
The former governor’s Media Adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, confirmed the development in a post on his X handle.
Adekeye stated that ICPC officials visited the residence earlier in the day.
”UPDATE: The Aso Drive residence of Malam Nasir @elrufai was today (Thursday) searched by the ICPC,” he wrote.
The action may be connected with an ongoing investigation into alleged financial misconduct during El-Rufai’s administration.
The search followed heightened scrutiny of his tenure while he has been in ICPC custody since Wednesday night.
He was taken into custody by ICPC operatives after his release on administrative bail by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
EFCC had earlier detained the former governor on Monday after he honoured the commission’s invitation.
Reacting, one of his lawyers, Ubong Akpan,described the operation as unlawful and a violation of legal procedures and fundamental rights.
ICPC spokesperson, John Odey, had earlier confirmed that the former governor was being questioned by investigators, adding that inquiries were ongoing, but gave no further details.
