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From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The planned arraignment of former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, on alleged cybercrime and breach of the Communications Act by the Federal government has been stalled and shifted to April 23.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Abuja division of the Federal High Court had earlier scheduled the arraignment for Wednesday, February 25.
However, the exercise was stalled following the absence of the defendant in court.
A prosecution counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye (SAN), informed the court that the former governor was still with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), for investigation on other matters.
He said that DSS has no control over the sister agency and requested an adjournment to March 23.
Responding, counsel to El- Rufai, Oluwole Iyamu, who did not oppose adjournment, however, requested that bail be granted to the former governor.
He cited several authorities to back up the request for bail.
In opposition, the prosecution counsel said the request was premature as the issue of bail can only be raised after the formal arraignment.
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Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, after taking the argument,s declined to grant the bail request, adding that her court was not yet informed of the matter.
The judge agreed that El-Rufai can only apply for bail after the arraignment.
Meanwhile, Justice Abdulmalik has fixed April 23 for the arraignment.
The Federal government had through the Department of State Services (DSS), 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, was filed early on Monday before the Federal High Court in Abuja, the secret police accused the former governor of breaching the Cybercrimes Prohibition Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act (2003)
Counts in the charge read:
“That you, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, adult, male, on February 13, 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 February 13, 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 February 13, 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.”
