The Federal Government has filed criminal charges against former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai for allegedly intercepting the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, was filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, with the Federal Republic of Nigeria as complainant and El-Rufai as defendant.
According to court documents, the prosecution claims that on February 13, 2026, during an appearance on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme, El-Rufai admitted to participating in the unlawful interception of Ribadu’s phone communications.
The charges against him include:
Count One: Admission of unlawful phone interception, allegedly violating Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
Count Two: Allegedly knowing about other individuals involved in the interception but failing to report them to authorities, contrary to Section 27(b) of the Cybercrimes Amendment Act.
Count Three: Using technical equipment or systems to intercept Ribadu’s communications in Abuja, an act said to compromise national security and public safety, contrary to Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
The Federal High Court has yet to set a date for El-Rufai’s arraignment.
The charges mark a significant escalation in the legal scrutiny surrounding the former governor, who has in recent weeks publicly criticized the Federal Government on issues of national security and governance.
The Federal Government described the alleged actions as serious breaches of national security, stressing that the enforcement of the Cybercrimes Act and other relevant laws is essential to protecting the integrity of Nigeria’s security architecture.
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