Tight security in court as trial of El-Rufai over ‘national security breach’ begins

By Taiye Agbaje

Security around the Federal High Court premises in Abuja is tight, as the Department of State Service (DSS) is set to arraign former Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State on alleged cybercrimes and breach of national security.

El-Rufai is scheduled to take his plea before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja on three-count charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, filed by the DSS against the former governor.

The security atmosphere at “Court six”, where the matter is expected to be heard, is heightened.

Justice Abdulmalik fixed Wednesday for commencement of the hearing after the case was assigned to her by the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho.

The DSS had filed a three-count criminal charge against El-Rufai following his alleged involvement in wiretapping the telephone lines of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

The service accused El-Rufai of breaching the Cybercrimes Prohibition Act, (2024), and the Nigerian Communications Act (2003)

In count on, El Rufai was alleged to have, on Feb. 13, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, did admit during the interview that he and his cohorts unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the NSA, Mr Ribadu.

The offence is said to be 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 Feb. 13, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, did state during the interview that he knew and related with certain individual, who unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of NSA, without reporting the said individual to relevant security agencies.

The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 27 (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment, Act, 2024.

Count three alleged that El Rufai and others still at large, sometime in 2026, in Abuja, did use technical equipment or systems which compromised public safety, national security and instilling reasonable apprehension of insecurity among Nigerians by unlawfully intercepting NSA’s phone communications.

The act, which the DSS said, the ex-governor admitted during an interview on Feb. 13th on Arise TV station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja “and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 131(2) Nigerian Communications Act 2003.”

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 Feb. 12 after his return from Cairo, Egypt.

As at the time of filing the report, the case is yet to commence as the ex-governor is also yet to be brought to court.