DSS Arraigns El-Rufai Over Alleged Wiretapping of NSA Ribadu’s Phone

The Department of State Services has arraigned former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, before a Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations of unlawfully intercepting the telephone conversations of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu . The former governor was arraigned on a five-count amended charge bordering on alleged unlawful interception of communications and breach of national security.

The former governor appeared before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik on Thursday, where he pleaded not guilty to all five counts. At the commencement of proceedings, DSS counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye (SAN), informed the court that the prosecution had amended the charge from three to five counts, with the further amended charge filed on April 13, 2026 . Consequently, the presiding judge struck out the previous three-count charge and proceeded to read the amended counts to the defendant.

According to the charge sheet, one of the amended counts alleges that El-Rufai “intentionally and without authorization, intercepted the communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, as admitted by you on 13th February, 2026, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV Station’s Prime Time Programme”. Another count accuses him of using “technical equipment or systems which compromised public safety, national security and instilling reasonable apprehension of insecurity among Nigerians by unlawfully intercepting the communications of the National Security Adviser”.

The former governor’s counsel, Oluwole Iyamu (SAN), confirmed receipt of the amended charge and did not oppose its substitution. However, the defence raised several objections, including concerns about scheduling multiple trial dates due to the defendant’s custody under the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission. The defence also informed the court of a pending bail application filed on February 17, noting that a further affidavit was initially missing from the case file before it was later located during proceedings . The DSS indicated that it did not oppose the bail application.

In a separate application, the prosecution sought an order to conceal the identities of two witnesses, requesting that their names be excluded from public court records and replaced with pseudonyms, citing safety concerns for their families. The defence opposed the application, arguing that it infringed on the constitutional right of an accused person to know his accusers and that no evidence had been presented to justify fears of targeted attacks. The defence further filed an application seeking to quash the amended charge, while the prosecution urged the court to dismiss it, describing it as lacking merit.

After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjourned the matter to May 18, 19, and 20, 2026, for hearing. The case stems from a February 2026 interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme, during which El-Rufai stated that “someone wiretapped” Ribadu’s phone, allowing him to listen to the NSA instructing security operatives to effect his arrest. In that interview, the former governor had said, “He made the call because we listened to their calls. Someone tapped his phone and told us that he gave the order”.