DSS Sues El-Rufai for Intercepting NSA Ribadu's Phone

The Department of State Services (DSS) has initiated legal action against Nasir El-Rufai, the former Governor of Kaduna State, for allegedly unlawfully intercepting the phone communications of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu. The lawsuit, filed in Abuja under case number 5026, contains three counts against El-Rufai.

It is claimed that during an interview on Aris TV's prime time program on February 13, 2026, El-Rufai admitted to intercepting Ribadu's communications unlawfully. The suit alleges that he knowingly associated with individuals involved in this interception without reporting to the relevant security agencies, violating Section 27(b) of the Cybercrime Prohibition, Prevention, etc. (Amendment) Act 2024.

Additionally, it accuses him of using large technical equipment that compromised public safety and national security, violating Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003. This legal action marks a significant escalation in the ongoing political and security controversies surrounding El-Rufai.