El-Rufai Arraigned for Alleged Phone Interception of NSA

Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, was arraigned by the Federal Government at the Federal High Court in Abuja on February 13, 2026. He faces charges related to the alleged unlawful interception of phone communications belonging to National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.

Court documents indicate that El-Rufai, 65, admitted to his involvement in the interception during a televised interview on Aris TV. The charges filed, referenced as Tabu Det CR 99 2026, consist of three counts: the first count alleges that he unlawfully intercepted communications contrary to Section 12(1) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act 2024; the second count accuses him of failing to report the unlawful interception, violating Section 27(b) of the same act; and the third count alleges that he used technical systems that compromised public safety and national security, contrary to Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003.

The case is being handled by a team of lawyers from the Federal Government led by Ernest Owan, Um Bulla, and CS Ez Ve G Orubor, and it falls within the jurisdiction of the Abuja Judicial Division of the Federal High Court.