El-Rufai Seeks Court Rejection of DSS Charges, ₦2 Billion Costs

Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge criminal charges filed against him by the Department of State Services (DSS). El-Rufai describes these charges as incompetent and unconstitutional, arguing that they represent an abuse of court process.

His motion, scheduled for hearing on February 25, 2026, seeks to quash the charges on the grounds that they disclose no offense known to law and lack a prima facie case. El-Rufai's legal team has notified the DSS's Director General of this application, citing 17 grounds for dismissing the charges, including allegations of political persecution and violations of his fundamental rights under the 1999 Constitution.

Additionally, he is requesting an award of ₦2 billion in costs against the DSS, accusing the agency of misusing the criminal justice system to harass and publicly embarrass him. The application is signed by Muyiwa Adekey.