El-Rufai to Face Court Over Alleged Cybercrimes

Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, the immediate past governor of Kaduna State, is scheduled to appear in the Federal High Court in Abuja on February 13, 2026, to face charges filed by the Department of State Services (DSS). The charges include three counts of alleged cybercrimes and breaches of the Nigerian Communications Act of 2003.

The DSS accuses El-Rufai of unlawfully intercepting phone communications of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu during an interview on Aris TV's prime-time program. The charges allege that he compromised public safety and national security, instilling insecurity among Nigerians.

The specific sections of the law cited include Section 12(1) of the Cybercrime Prohibition and Prevention Act 2024 and Section 27(b) of the same act, as well as Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003. The court proceedings are expected to attract significant public attention, with security measures in place to manage the crowd.