Court Adjourns El-Rufai’s Arraignment Over Alleged NSA Phone Interception

The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the arraignment of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over allegations of unlawful interception of communications.

The Department of State Services (DSS) filed a three-count charge against El-Rufai following comments he made during a television interview concerning the alleged tapping of the National Security Adviser’s phone.

The court had earlier scheduled February 25 for his arraignment, but the former governor was absent during Wednesday’s proceedings.

Counsel to the DSS, Oluwole Aladedoyin, informed the court that El-Rufai remains in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), where he is being investigated for alleged misappropriation of funds.

Following the development, the judge adjourned the matter to April 23 for arraignment.

The charges stem from claims made by El-Rufai that he and others listened to conversations from the phone of Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, after it was allegedly tapped by a third party.

According to court documents, the Federal Government, through the DSS, alleges that El-Rufai admitted participating in the interception. The suit, filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, lists the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the complainant and El-Rufai as the defendant.

The Federal Government, through the Department of State Services (DSS), has filed a three-count charge against former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over alleged unlawful interception of communications.

The case relates to statements made during a television interview in which El-Rufai claimed that he and unnamed individuals listened to phone conversations belonging to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

Although the court had fixed February 25 for his arraignment, proceedings were stalled as the former governor was absent. DSS counsel informed the court that El-Rufai is currently in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over a separate investigation into alleged fund misappropriation.

The presiding judge subsequently adjourned the case to April 23.

Court filings obtained indicate that the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the complainant in the matter before the Federal High Court in Abuja.