Former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai faces three-count charge over alleged interception of NSA’s communications

Abuja, 16 February 2026 – Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, has been charged with three separate criminal counts at the Federal High Court in Abuja in connection with the alleged unlawful interception of the telephone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

The charge sheet, dated 16 February 2026 and marked “PTH 185 / CA 99 / 2026”, was filed by prosecutors from the Department of State Services. It accuses the 65-year-old of offences arising from statements he made during a live television interview.

Count One alleges that on 13 February 2026, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme in Abuja, Mr El-Rufai admitted that he and his cohorts had unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, contrary to and punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.

Count Two states that during the same interview Mr El-Rufai admitted that he knew and was in contact with certain individuals who had unlawfully intercepted Mr Ribadu’s communications, but failed to report them to the relevant security agencies. This is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.

Count Three charges that Mr El-Rufai, together with others still at large, sometime in 2026 in Abuja, used technical equipment or systems which compromised public safety, national security and instilled reasonable apprehension of insecurity among Nigerians by unlawfully intercepting the phone communications of the National Security Adviser. The count states that he admitted this conduct during the 13 February interview on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme. This is alleged to be an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.

The Federal Republic of Nigeria is listed as complainant and Mallam Nasir El-Rufai (65 years) as defendant. The document is signed by ME Ernest Esq, O.M Owan Esq, U.M Bulla Esq, C.S. Eze PhD, and E.G. Orubor Esq of the Department of State Services.

No date has yet been fixed for Mr El-Rufai’s arraignment. He has not issued any public statement on the charges.

The case follows widespread coverage of Mr El-Rufai’s appearance on Arise TV, during which he claimed to have listened to a recorded conversation involving the National Security Adviser.