The Department of State Services (DSS) is set to arraign former Kaduna State Governor, Mr. Nasir El-Rufai, on 25 February over alleged cybercrime and breaches of national security, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court fixed the date after the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho, assigned the case to her.

DSS, on Monday, filed a three-count criminal charge against El-Rufai following his alleged involvement in the unlawful interception of the telephone communications of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

The charge, instituted by the secret police and marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, accuses El-Rufai of breaching the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.

In count one, El-Rufai was alleged to have, on 13 February, while appearing as a guest on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme in Abuja, admitted during the interview that he and his associates unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s telephone communications. The offence is said to be contrary to, and punishable under, Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.

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In count two, the former governor was alleged to have stated, during the same interview, that he knew and associated with certain individuals who unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s communications but failed to report them to the relevant security agencies. The alleged offence is contrary to, and punishable under, Section 27(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.

Count three alleges that El-Rufai and others still at large, sometime in 2026 in Abuja, used technical equipment or systems in a manner that compromised public safety and national security, thereby instilling reasonable apprehension of insecurity among Nigerians by unlawfully intercepting the NSA’s communications.

The DSS said the former governor admitted to the act during the 13 February interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme, thereby committing an offence contrary to, and punishable under, Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.

During the live television interview, El-Rufai claimed he overheard Mr. Ribadu directing security operatives to detain him, linking the alleged directive to an attempted arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on 12 February after his return from Cairo, Egypt.

The former governor was detained on Monday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over corruption allegations. He was granted administrative bail at about 8 p.m. on Wednesday but was reportedly taken into custody immediately thereafter by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Confirming the development in a message shared on a journalists’ WhatsApp group on Wednesday night, the ICPC’s spokesperson, Mr. John Odey, said: “Malam Nasiru El-Rufai is in the custody of the commission in connection with ongoing investigations.”