Alleged national security breach: Security around FHC tight as DSS arraigns El-Rufai

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.

Our correspondent reports that the charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, filed by the DSS against the former governor, is on number 14 on the day’s cause list.

Our correspondent reports that that security atmosphere at ”Court six”, where the matter is expected to be heard, is heightened.

Our correspondent earlier reported that Justice Abdulmalik fixed Wednesday 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 Ngpfvuhu 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.
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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.”

Our correspondent recalls that 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. 12y 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 .