KEY POINTS

• El-Rufai will be arraigned Feb 25 over alleged unlawful interception of the NSA’s phone communications.
• Prosecutors claim he admitted involvement and association with suspects during a TV interview.
• Trial of former AGF Malami and his son on terrorism-related charges has been rescheduled to Feb 27 due to a public holiday.

The immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, is scheduled to be arraigned on February 25 before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged cybercrime violations.

According to court documents, the charges were filed by the Department of State Services and assigned to Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.

The three-count charge accuses El-Rufai of unlawful interception of the telephone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, allegedly breaching provisions of the Cybercrimes Act and the Nigerian Communications Act.

Alleged Admission During TV Interview

In the first count, prosecutors claim El-Rufai admitted during a February 13 appearance on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme that he and associates unlawfully intercepted Ribadu’s phone communications.

The second count alleges he acknowledged knowing individuals involved in the interception but failed to report them to authorities. The third count claims he and unnamed collaborators used technical systems capable of compromising national security and causing public fear through the alleged surveillance.

Authorities say the alleged actions violate Section 12(1) and Section 27(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, as well as Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.

Meanwhile, proceedings in the separate terrorism and illegal firearms case against former Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami and his son, Abdulaziz, have been postponed until February 27.

The trial was adjourned because a public holiday declared by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike ahead of local council elections prevented the court from sitting.