Secret police on Monday filed a three-count criminal suit against former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai at the Federal High Court, accusing him of orchestrating the illegal interception of phone communications belonging to National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
The Department of State Services (DSS) lodged the case under Charge No. 5026, citing El-Rufai’s public admission during a February 13 interview on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme as the trigger for the action.
The charges include: personally admitting to the unlawful interception, punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024; knowingly associating with individuals who carried out the act without reporting them, contrary to Section 27(b) of the same legislation; and deploying technical equipment to undermine public safety and national security, in violation of Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003.
El-Rufai had claimed in the broadcast that he and associates tapped Ribadu’s line, prompting the DSS to act swiftly. A court hearing date has yet to be fixed.
