The Department of State Services (DSS) will arraign former Nasir el-Rufai on Wednesday, February 25, at the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged cybercrime and breaches of national security.
El-Rufai is expected to appear before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik to answer a three-count charge filed by the DSS.
The charges relate to claims that he unlawfully intercepted a telephone conversation involving Nuhu Ribadu.
The alleged wiretapping reportedly allowed el-Rufai to hear Ribadu instruct security operatives to effect his arrest, comments he made during an interview on Arise News.
On Monday, the DSS formally filed the charges, citing violations of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
The agency considered the alleged actions a serious breach of national security.
This arraignment adds to el-Rufai’s ongoing legal challenges.
On February 18, he was briefly detained by the DSS after spending two nights at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He is also in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over separate corruption allegations linked to his tenure as Kaduna State governor.
The upcoming court proceedings are expected to intensify public scrutiny of el-Rufai’s legal and political battles as multiple investigations by Nigeria’s anti-graft and security agencies continue.
