El-Rufai in Fresh Legal Storm as DSS Slams Five-Count Charge Over Alleged Wiretapping of NSA
By Paul Ebi
Abuja — Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has been arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja by Nigeria’s secret police, the Department of State Services (DSS), over allegations of unlawfully intercepting sensitive security communications involving the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
El-Rufai, who also served as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, is facing a five-count amended charge bordering on alleged unauthorized access to classified communications, in a case that has sparked widespread debate about surveillance, power, and accountability in Nigeria.
At Thursday’s proceedings, presiding judge Joyce Abdulmalik approved the prosecution’s request to amend the initial three-count charge to five counts, subsequently striking out the earlier charge sheet. The former governor pleaded not guilty to all charges.
From TV Confession to Courtroom Battle
The charges stem from remarks made by El-Rufai during a February appearance on Prime Time, a programme on Arise Television, where he claimed that associates had tapped Ribadu’s phone and relayed details of a private conversation.
During the interview, El-Rufai openly stated: “We listened to their call… Someone tapped his phone and told us that he gave the order.” He further justified the alleged act, suggesting that government surveillance was not one-sided: “Government thinks they are the only ones that listen to calls, but we also have our ways.”
The comments triggered immediate backlash, with many calling for a full investigation into what was widely interpreted as a public admission of illegal wiretapping.
Presidency Reacts, Demands AccountabilityReacting to the development, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, questioned the implications of El-Rufai’s claims and called for decisive action.
“El-Rufai confesses to wire-tapping Nigeria’s NSA on TV. Does it mean that he and his collaborators have such capabilities?” Onanuga asked, adding that no individual is above the law and that the matter must be thoroughly investigated.
Details of the Charges
Court documents, marked FHC/CR/99/2026, filed by the Federal Republic of Nigeria, outline serious allegations tied to cybercrime and national security breaches
Count One accuses El-Rufai of admitting to unlawfully intercepting the NSA’s communications, contrary to provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
Count Two alleges that he knowingly associated with individuals involved in the interception but failed to report them to authorities.
Count Three further claims that El-Rufai and unnamed accomplices used technical systems to compromise national security by illegally accessing protected communications, in violation of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
The prosecution team includes Ernest O.M., Owan O.M., U.M. Bulla, C.S. Eze (PhD), and E.G. Orubor, representing the DSS.
A Case with National Implications
The high-profile trial is expected to test Nigeria’s legal boundaries on cyber surveillance, privacy rights, and national security. Legal analysts say the outcome could set a precedent on how admissions made in public forums—especially by influential political figures—are treated under the law.
As proceedings continue, all eyes remain on the Federal High Court, where the case is poised to unfold into one of the most consequential legal battles involving a former top government official in recent years.
