Security around the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, is tight, as the State Security Service is set to arraign former Governor Nasir El-Rufai on charges of alleged cybercrimes and breaches of national security.
Mr El-Rufai is scheduled to take his plea before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik in the court on a three-count charge. In the charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, filed by the SSS against the former governor, is number 14 on the day’s cause list.
Security at ‘Court six’, where the matter is expected to be heard, is heightened. The judge fixed Wednesday after the case was assigned to her by the chief judge, Justice John Tsoho.
The SSS had filed a three-count criminal charge against Mr El-Rufai following his alleged involvement in wiretapping the telephone lines of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The secret police accused Mr El-Rufai of breaching the Cybercrimes Prohibition Act (2024) and the Nigerian Communications Act (2003).
In count one, Mr El-Rufai was alleged to have, on February 13, while appearing as a guest on ARISE TV, admitted during the interview that he and his cohorts unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the NSA, Mr Ribadu, contrary to and punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.
In count two, the ex-governor was alleged to have, on February 13, while appearing as a guest on ARISE TV, stated during the interview that he knew and related with a certain individual, who unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the NSA, without reporting the individual to the relevant security agencies.
SSS stated that the offence was contrary to and punishable under Section 27 (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.
Count three alleged that Mr El-Rufai and others, still at large, sometime in 2026, in Abuja, did use technical equipment or systems that compromised public safety and national security, and instilled reasonable apprehension of insecurity among Nigerians, by unlawfully intercepting NSA’s phone communications.
The act, which the SSS said the ex-governor admitted during an interview on February 13 on ARISE TV, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003.
Mr El-Rufai had, during a live interview on the TV station, claimed he overheard Mr Ribadu directing security operatives to detain him, linking the alleged directive to an attempted arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on February 12 after his return from Cairo, Egypt.
At the time the report was filed, the case had not yet commenced, as the ex-governor had not been brought to court.
(NAN)