The Federal Government has filed a three-count charge against former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, accusing him of illegally intercepting the phone communications of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
The charges, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja through the Department of State Services (DSS), claim that El-Rufai, who also served as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, allegedly committed the offence alongside accomplices who are currently at large.
The FG told the court that on February 3, during an appearance as a guest on Arise TV’s Prime Time program, El-Rufai admitted involvement in the act. He is being prosecuted under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act 2024.
In the second count, El-Rufai, described as a key member of a coalition of opposition politicians critical of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, was accused of being aware that someone had unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s communications but failed to report the crime to the appropriate authorities.
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The charges further allege that the use of technical equipment to intercept the NSA’s calls endangered public safety and national security, creating “reasonable apprehension” among Nigerians, in violation of Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003.
This development marks a significant escalation in legal scrutiny against the former governor, who remains a prominent figure in Nigeria’s political landscape.