Former Kaduna governor faces three-count charge after admitting on live television that associates tapped National Security Adviser's communications
The Federal Government has initiated criminal proceedings against former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, filing charges related to the alleged unlawful interception of phone communications belonging to National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
Court documents seen by PUNCH Online reveal that the charges, filed February 16, 2026, and marked C2/99/2026, stem from comments El-Rufai made during a February 13 appearance on Arise Television's Prime Time programme.
The Admission
During the televised interview, El-Rufai disclosed that associates had intercepted Ribadu's phone conversations and shared the contents with him—a revelation he acknowledged as "technically illegal" while arguing that government agencies routinely conduct similar surveillance without court orders.
Prosecutors allege that this public admission constitutes an offence under Nigeria's cybercrime legislation.
The Charges
According to the charge sheet, the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the complainant, with El-Rufai listed as the sole defendant.
Count One alleges that El-Rufai, by admitting to the unlawful interception on national television, committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
Count Two claims that El-Rufai stated during the same interview that he knew and associated with individuals who unlawfully intercepted Ribadu's communications but failed to report them to relevant security agencies—an omission allegedly contrary to Section 27(b) of the same Act.
Count Three alleges that El-Rufai and others still at large, sometime in 2026 in Abuja, used technical equipment or systems to unlawfully intercept the National Security Adviser's phone communications. The charge asserts that this act compromised public safety and national security, contrary to Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act.
The Context
El-Rufai's televised comments came amid heightened tensions between the former governor and security agencies. Days earlier, operatives had attempted to detain him at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport upon his return from Cairo, an incident that saw his international passport allegedly "physically snatched" from an aide.
The former governor has maintained that the attempted detention was politically motivated and that his comments about intercepted communications were merely observational rather than admissions of personal culpability.
What's Next
As of this report, El-Rufai's legal team has not issued an official response to the charges. The case now moves to the courts, where the former governor will have the opportunity to contest the allegations or enter a plea.
The charges mark a significant escalation in the confrontation between El-Rufai and the administration he once supported. If convicted, he could face penalties under legislation designed to protect the integrity of Nigeria's communications infrastructure—a law now being wielded against one of the country's most prominent political figures.
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