BREAKING: DSS Arraigns El-Rufai For Allegedly Tapping NSA Ribadu's Phone Conversation

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El-Rufai, who also served as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), is facing a five-count amended charge bordering on alleged interception and unauthorized access to sensitive security communications

Nigeria’s secret police, the Department of State Services (DSS), has arraigned former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, before a Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations that he unlawfully accessed a private telephone conversation involving the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

At Thursday’s proceedings, the prosecution told the court that the initial three-count charge had been expanded to five counts. Following the amendment, the presiding judge, Joyce Abdulmalik, struck out the earlier charge sheet.

The former governor pleaded not guilty to all counts.

The charges stem from comments made by el-Rufai in February during an appearance on Prime Time, a programme on Arise Television, where he openly claimed that associates had tapped Ribadu’s phone.

Nasir El Rufai, had, drew flak from different quarters after publicly confessing to accessing an intercepted telephone conversation of NSA Ribadu.

The general view was that he should be probed and prosecuted for allegedly violating the law of the land.

El Rufai, speaking during an Arise Television interview, had said he listened to the NSA allegedly instructing security operatives to get him arrested.

“He (Ribadu) made the call because we listened to their call,” the former governor told his interviewer.

He added, “Someone tapped his phone. The government listens to our calls all the time without a court order. Someone tapped his phone and told us that he gave the order.”

El-Rufai justified his action by saying, “Government thinks they are the only ones that listen to calls, but we also have our ways.”

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, called for an investigation and possible prosecution of the former governor for his open confession of illegal wire-tapping of the NSA.

“El-Rufai confesses to wire-tapping Nigeria’s NSA on TV. Does it mean that he and his collaborators have wire-tapping facilities?” Onanuga wrote on his verified X handle.

Continuing, he said: “This should be thoroughly investigated, and punishment meted out. El-Rufai is not too big to face the wrath of the law.”

Court documents earlier obtained by SaharaReporters indicate that the charges, marked FHC/CR/99/2026, were filed in the name of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as complainant, with El-Rufai, 65, listed as the sole defendant.

According to the documents, the prosecution alleges that El-Rufai made incriminating admissions during a televised interview on February 13, 2026, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme in Abuja.

Count One alleges that the former governor admitted to unlawfully intercepting the phone communications of the NSA, an act said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.

In Count Two, prosecutors allege that El-Rufai acknowledged knowing and relating with individuals who allegedly intercepted the NSA’s communications, but failed to report them to relevant security agencies, an offence cited under Section 27(b) of the same Act.

While count three further accuses El-Rufai and “others still at large” of using technical systems that allegedly compromised public safety and national security by unlawfully intercepting the NSA’s phone communications, contrary to Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.

The charge sheet lists Ernest O.M., Owan O.M., U.M. Bulla, C.S. Eze (PhD), and E.G. Orubor as counsel for the prosecution, acting on behalf of the Department of State Service.

WATCH: DSS Arraigns El-Rufai For Allegedly Tapping NSA Ribadu’s Phone Conversation pic.twitter.com/gXvHAqUyQn

— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) April 23, 2026