The DSS arraignment of El-Rufai will take place on Wednesday, February 25, as the Department of State Services moves to prosecute the former Kaduna State governor over alleged cybercrime and breach of national security.

Authorities will present Nasir El-Rufai before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja to answer to the charges. The development marks a fresh escalation in the legal challenges facing the former governor.

Charges Linked to Alleged Phone Interception

On Monday, the DSS filed a three-count charge against El-Rufai, accusing him of intercepting a telephone conversation involving Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser (NSA). Prosecutors allege that El-Rufai unlawfully accessed and disclosed the conversation.

The agency said the alleged actions violate provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, as well as the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003. Officials argue that the alleged interception threatens national security and undermines lawful communication safeguards.

The charges followed comments El-Rufai made during an appearance on Prime Time, a programme on Arise Television. During the interview, he claimed that someone wiretapped Ribadu’s phone and allowed him to listen to the NSA directing security operatives to arrest him.

Arrests and Ongoing Investigations

On February 18, DSS operatives briefly took El-Rufai into custody shortly after he spent two nights with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The sequence of events intensified public attention on his legal battles.

El-Rufai also remains in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over separate allegations of corruption linked to his tenure as Kaduna State governor.

Security agencies have yet to disclose further details about the evidence supporting the cybercrime charges. However, the DSS arraignment of El-Rufai signals a significant legal confrontation that could have broader political and security implications.

The court proceedings on February 25 will determine the next phase of the case as prosecutors seek to establish violations of national security laws.

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