The Federal Government has filed charges against former Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-Rufai for allegedly intercepting the phone conversation of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The charge, marked C2/99/2026 and dated February 16, 2026, lists the Federal Republic of Nigeria as complainant and El-Rufai, aged 65, as defendant.
According to court documents, the prosecution alleges that on February 13, 2026, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme in Abuja, El-Rufai admitted that he and others unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
In count one, the Federal Government alleges that the admission amounts to an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
Count two alleges that El-Rufai stated during the same interview that he knew and related with individuals who unlawfully intercepted Ribadu’s phone communications but failed to report them to relevant security agencies, contrary to Section 27(b) of the Cybercrimes Amendment Act, 2024.
The third count alleges that El-Rufai and others still at large, sometime in 2026 in Abuja, used technical equipment or systems to unlawfully intercept the National Security Adviser’s phone communications, an act said to have compromised public safety and national security, contrary to Section 131(2) of the Nigerian
