The Department of State Services (DSS) has scheduled the arraignment of Malam Nasir El-Rufai, former Governor of Kaduna State, on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, over criminal charges filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja. The charges relate to alleged cybercrime and breach of national security.
The criminal charge sheet, filed by the DSS and marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, was assigned to Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court by the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho. The matter is scheduled to be heard on February 25.
According to court documents, the DSS alleges that El-Rufai unlawfully intercepted telephone communications belonging to Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser (NSA).
The charge sheet shows that the prosecution cited provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003 in the allegations.
The first count in the charge sheet alleges that, during an interview on February 13, 2026, on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme in Abuja, El-Rufai admitted that he and others allegedly intercepted the NSA’s telephone communications without lawful authority.
The DSS says this conduct is contrary to Section 12(1) of the amended Cybercrimes Act.
In the second count, the prosecution alleges that El-Rufai stated during the same interview that he knew an individual who had unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s communications but failed to report the matter to the appropriate security agencies, an offence cited under Section 27(b) of the same Act.
The third count alleges that El-Rufai and others still at large, sometime in 2026 in Abuja, used technical equipment or systems to intercept the NSA’s communications in a manner the DSS says compromised public safety and national security, contrary to Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act.
The DSS filing follows public comments by El-Rufai in which he said he had heard Ribadu directing security operatives to detain him.
The former governor linked that claim to an incident at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on February 12 following his return from Cairo, Egypt.
El-Rufai had earlier been detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over separate allegations of financial misconduct.
After being granted administrative bail late on February 18, he was subsequently taken into custody by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in connection with ongoing investigations.
The ICPC has confirmed that El-Rufai remains in its custody as of February 18, 2026.
