Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) has scheduled the arraignment of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai for Wednesday, February 25.
He faces allegations of unauthorized phone tapping of the National Security Adviser and other activities deemed threatening to national security.
The case is set to be heard by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Persecondnews had reported that the DSS briefly detained el-Rufai on February 18, immediately following a two-night stint in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
During a Saturday, February 15 appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time, the former FCT Minister claimed that an unknown party had surreptitiously recorded National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu’s mobile conversations.
El-Rufai alleged he personally overheard the NSA instructing security agents to detain him.
By Monday, the DSS officially filed a three-count charge against the former governor.
The authorities allege that el-Rufai intentionally intercepted a private telephone exchange belonging to the National Security Adviser, a move they qualify as a breach of national security.
The agency insisted that the reported conduct violates key sections of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024, together with the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
Meanwhile, El-Rufai remains in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission facing graft offences allegedly committed during his tenure as governor.
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