DSS to Arraign El-Rufai for Alleged Phone Tapping

The Department of State Services (DSS) is scheduled to arraign former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai on February 25, following a three-count charge filed against him. The charges allege that El-Rufai unlawfully intercepted telephone conversations involving national security adviser Nuhu Ribadu, which contravenes provisions of the Cybercrime Prohibition and Prevention Act and the Nigerian Communications Act.

El-Rufai is currently in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) due to an investigation into alleged corrupt practices during his tenure as governor. He had previously spent two nights in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) related to a separate matter.

The allegations arose after El-Rufai claimed during a television program that someone had wiretapped the phone of the national security adviser, which he stated enabled the interception of security operations. Further proceedings are expected when he appears in court on February 25.