DSS To Arraign El-Rufai For Alleged Cybercrime
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, will be arraigned by the Department of State Services, DSS, on Wednesday, February 25, over alleged cybercrime and breach of national security.
The former governor will be arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
It would be recalled that the ICPC took El-Rufai into custody shortly after he was released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC after spending two nights with the anti-corruption agency.
The DSS had on Monday filed a three-count charge against El-Rufai for allegedly intercepting the NSA’s telephone conversation.
In count one, El Rufai was alleged to have, on February 13, while appearing as a guest on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme in Abuja, admitted that he and his cohorts unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the NSA, 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 February 13, while appearing as a guest on Arise Television, stated 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 instilled reasonable apprehension of insecurity among Nigerians, to unlawfully intercept the NSA’s phone communications.
The DSS said the alleged offence contravened the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment, Act, 2024 and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
