By Kevin Akor
ABUJA, Nigeria (chatnewstv.com) — Feb. 16, 2026 — Nigeria’s government has filed cybercrime charges against former Kaduna State governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai at the Federal High Court in Abuja, accusing him of involvement in the alleged unlawful interception of communications belonging to National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, was filed Monday by prosecutors from the State Security Service (SSS), three days after El-Rufai said during a live appearance on Arise TV that Ribadu’s phone conversation had been tapped and that he heard the NSA directing operatives to arrest him.
“The NSA’s call was tapped. They do that to our calls too, and we heard him saying they should arrest me,” El-Rufai said in the Feb. 13 interview. He linked the alleged directive to an incident the previous day at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, where he said security officials attempted to detain him on arrival.
Witnesses said El-Rufai was briefly restrained by security personnel at the airport, his international passport was seized, and he was escorted out amid chants from supporters.
According to the charge sheet, prosecutors allege that El-Rufai admitted on television to unlawfully intercepting the NSA’s communications, contrary to Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024. A second count accuses him of associating with a person who carried out the interception and failing to report it, under Section 27(b) of the same law.
A third count alleges that El-Rufai and others still at large used technical equipment in a manner that compromised public safety and national security by intercepting Ribadu’s communications, contrary to Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003. No arraignment date has been set.
El-Rufai had not publicly responded to the charges at the time of filing this report.
Political tensions
The case arises amid escalating tensions between El-Rufai and the administration of President Bola Tinubu. Once a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, El-Rufai left the party in 2025 to join the African Democratic Congress after his 2023 ministerial nomination was blocked by the Senate over security concerns.
In the Arise TV interview, El-Rufai alleged that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission had “procured” the SSS to arrest him and insisted Ribadu personally ordered the move. Asked how he knew of the alleged directive, he replied: “He made the call because we listen to their calls. The government believes it is the only one listening to calls, but we have our ways.”
Pressed on whether the NSA’s phone was tapped, he added: “Someone tapped his phone,” while acknowledging that such interception was technically illegal.
Presidential aides reacted sharply. Special Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga described the remarks as a “confession” warranting investigation, while Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity Temitope Ajayi said the admission required scrutiny.
Legal analysts say that if proven, unauthorised interception of the NSA’s communications could constitute a grave breach of national security and privacy protections under Nigerian law, which criminalises wiretapping without lawful authority.
