FG Sues El-Rufai Over Alleged Interception Of Ribadu’s Phone Calls

The Federal Government has filled criminal charges against former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai.

The government sued El-Rufai over claims that he was involved in intercepting the phone conversations of Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

The case follows comments El-Rufai made during a television interview last week, where he said he and some unnamed individuals listened to Ribadu’s phone calls after the device was allegedly tapped by a third party.

Although he admitted that such actions are against the law, he suggested that illegal surveillance is not uncommon.

Acting through the Department of State Services (DSS), the Federal Government filed a three-count charge at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Court documents stated that El-Rufai openly acknowledged during the interview that he and others intercepted the NSA’s communications.

The Federal Republic of Nigeria is listed as the complainant in the case, while El-Rufai is named as the sole defendant.

COUNT ONE

That you, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, adult, male, on 13th February, 2026, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV Station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, did admit during the interview that you and your cohorts unlawfully intercepted the Phone Communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 12 (1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.

COUNT TWO

That you, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, adult, male, on 13th February, 2026, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV Station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, did state during the interview that you know and relate with certain individual, who unlawfully intercepted the Phone Communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, without reporting the said individual to relevant Security agencies and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 27 (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.

COUNT THREE

That you, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, adult, male, and other still at large, sometime in 2026, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, with others still at large did use technical equipment or systems which compromised public safety, national security and instilling reasonable apprehension of insecurity among Nigerians by unlawfully intercepting the Phone Communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to which you admitted during an interview on 13th February, 2026, on Arise TV Station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 131 (2) Nigerian Communications Act 2003.

KanyiDaily recalls that Nasir El-Rufai also alleged that Nuhu Ribadu imported a colorless, odourless poison from Poland.