Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, is facing three charges from the federal government for allegedly illegally intercepting National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu’s phone conversations.
The former governor, who was also the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, was accused of committing the crime alongside some currently wanted individuals in the FG’s charge filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja through the Department of State Services (DSS).
FG informed the court that the defendant had acknowledged his involvement in the crime on February 3 when he made an appearance as a guest on the Prime Time show of the Arise TV station.
He was accused of committing an offence under section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act 2024.
According to count two of the charge, the former governor who is a leading figure in an opposition political coalition that is unhappy with President Bola Tinubu’s administration, knew that the NSA’s communications had been illegally intercepted but neglected to notify the appropriate security agencies of the crime.
The defendants were also accused of violating section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 by allegedly endangering national security and public safety and causing “reasonable apprehension” among Nigerians by employing technological equipment to intercept the NSA’s communications.
