The Nigerian Federal Government has filed criminal charges against former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over the alleged interception of the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Court documents indicate that the case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The Federal Republic of Nigeria is listed as the complainant, while El-Rufai is named as the defendant.
According to documents reviewed by journalists, the government said that on February 13, 2026, during an appearance on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme in Abuja, El-Rufai admitted that he and others unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
In the first charge, the government said the alleged admission constitutes an offence under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
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The second charge stated that during the same interview, El-Rufai said he knew and associated with individuals who unlawfully intercepted Ribadu’s phone communications but did not report them to security agencies. Prosecutors said this violates Section 27(b) of the Cybercrimes Amendment Act, 2024.
The third count alleged that El-Rufai and other persons still at large, sometime in 2026 in Abuja, used technical equipment or systems to unlawfully intercept the National Security Adviser’s phone communications. The government said the act affected public safety and national security. This charge was filed under Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.