The arraignment of former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai over cybercrime charges was on Wednesday stalled on account of his current custody at the the Independent Corrupt and Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).
The Department of State Services had filed the charge against El-Rufai over his alleged involvement in wiretapping the telephone lines of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu
In the three-count charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, filed on February 24, the agency accused the former governor of breaching the Cybercrimes Prohibition Act, (2024), and the Nigerian Communications Act (2003.)
The DSS counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye (SAN), told the court when the charge that the former governor was absent in court because he is being questioned over sundry issues by the secret police.
He explained that the DSS has no control over the sister agency and therefore requested an adjournment.
Mr Oluwole Iyamu, counsel to the former Kaduna governor did not raise any objection to the adjournment, however he demanded that El-Rufai be released on bail, citing several authorities to back his oral application.
The DSS lawyer opposed the bail application on the ground that it was premature, adding that the issue of bail can only be raised after the formal arraignment.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, refused to grant the bail application adding that her court was not yet seized of the matter.
The court maintained that El-Rufai can only apply for bail after he has taken plea.
The Judge fixed April 23 for the arraignment.
Count one reads: “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.
“That you, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, adult, male, on 13t 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.
“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.
