₦airaland Forum

The State Security Service (SSS) will on February 25 arraign former Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State on alleged cybercrime and breach of national security, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court (FHC) fixed the date after the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho, assigned the case to her.

NAN earlier reported that the SSS on Monday filed a three-count criminal charge against Mr El-Rufai following his alleged involvement in wiretapping the telephone lines of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.

The charge, instituted by the Nigerian secret police, is marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026.
The service accused Mr El-Rufai of breaching the Cybercrimes Prohibition Act (2024) and the Nigerian Communications Act (2003).

In count one, Mr El-Rufai was alleged to have, on February 13, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, admitted 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 February 13, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, stated during the interview that he knew and related with a certain individual, who unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the 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 Mr El-Rufai and others still at large, sometime in 2026, in Abuja, did use technical equipment or systems that compromised public safety and national security, and instilled reasonable apprehension of insecurity among Nigerians, by unlawfully intercepting NSA’s phone communications.
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The SSS said the ex-governor admitted the act during an interview on February 13 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.”

Mr 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 the attempt to arrest him at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on February 12, 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, said: “Malam Nasiru El-Rufai is in the custody of the commission in connection with ongoing investigations.”

AMINDA:
Mallam will make lightwork of the case. We told you all that Elrufai is squeaky clean. After the wild goose chase by the EFCC and ICPC, they found nothing. Make no mistakes, Elrufai will come out swinging.

“Unless betrayed, our loyalty and fidelity to friends are permanent and pensionable. Unless reconciled, our opposition and enmity to traitors are permanent and pensionable.” - Mallam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai

FreeStuffsNG:
He talks too much and that is a sign of poor use of discretion.

It's no brainer that there was no basis to be that reckless with such a simple question the journalist asked him. Very simple question he could not answer without landing in jail and becoming a serious political liability. How is that one now a politician or political asset? Smh

El Rufai should have just insinuated that he was reliably informed but yet to ascertain instead of opening mouth waah to say on TV that you and others listen to conversations from illegally tapped phone of the National Security Adviser.


Just imagine anyone saying on TV that he tapped and listens to El Rufai's conversations when he was the Executive Governor of Kaduna State. Will he El Rufai let such individual(s) walk free? He will not! As a matter of fact, El Rufai will do far worse to the individual(s) than DSS is doing with him because Asiwaju Tinubu is a democrat and due process President.

Tenses:
tinubu knows the north has left him reason for this vendetta against Northern elites.

FreeStuffsNG:
He talks too much and that is a sign of poor use of discretion.

It's no brainer that there was no basis to be that reckless with such a simple question the journalist asked him. Very simple question he could not answer without landing in jail and becoming a serious political liability. How is that one now a politician or political asset? Smh

El Rufai should have just insinuated that he was reliably informed but yet to ascertain instead of opening mouth waah to say on TV that you and others listen to conversations from illegally tapped phone of the National Security Adviser.


Just imagine anyone saying on TV that he tapped and listens to El Rufai's conversations when he was the Executive Governor of Kaduna State. Will he El Rufai let such individual(s) walk free? He will not! As a matter of fact, El Rufai will do far worse to the individual(s) than DSS is doing with him because Asiwaju Tinubu is a democrat and due process President.

Brendaniel:
My comment was deleted earlier on

Brendaniel:
My comment was deleted earlier on

Coronavirus1:
First court Appearance he will be granted bail no long thing

Tooreda:
Na Osewa's magic be that. I really don't understand what he stands to gain deleting people's comments anyhow.

airsaylongcome:
Anyone that thinks el-Rufai was flippant is not smart. People at that level don’t just talk.

lapintoz:
Yes because it did not meet the federal quota system of Nigeria. You too open mouth!

Na only you dey NL. 😁😁😁

Coronavirus1:
First court Appearance he will be granted bail no long thing

Putindbutt:
And a female judge will handle his case .. Ask Kanu how Justice Binta gave him depression sotey he beg her to recuse herself.

FreeStuffsNG:
Smh.

You are not different from El Rufai; reckless and utterly irresponsible in choice of words.

Ignorance mixed with obscene bigotry will not help your lot. In 2023, only North and South west showed diversed opinion and political pluralism. North alone produced 4 different winners in states polls for Presidency . You are clearly ignorant if you still reason in ancient and ignorant way of seeing a monolithic north.

You are busy wasting your time online again and when the serial losers you support lose again, you will be looking for others to blame instead of your ignorance and bigotry.