BREAKING: Nigerian Government Files Criminal Charges Against El-Rufai Over Alleged Ribadu Phone Tap

The Federal Government of Nigeria has initiated legal proceedings against former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on allegations related to the illegal interception of communications directed at the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.

A three-count charge was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, dated February 16, 2026. The charges are a direct consequence of statements made by El-Rufai during a television interview.

According to court documents, the case against the former governor stems from his appearance on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme on February 13.

Details of the Allegations

In the first count, prosecutors assert that El-Rufai, during the live broadcast, confessed to participating in the act of unlawfully intercepting phone conversations belonging to the NSA. The statement, allegedly made in collaboration with other individuals whose identities are not yet disclosed, is claimed to be a violation of Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act of 2024.

The second charge contends that the former governor failed in his civic duty by not reporting the incident. It alleges that despite admitting to knowing the identities of those who carried out the interception, El-Rufai did not alert the relevant security authorities, an omission that contravenes the provisions of the same cybercrime legislation.

The third and final count accuses El-Rufai and other suspects, who remain at large, of deploying sophisticated technical systems to compromise national security. The prosecution argues that the interception of the NSA’s communications was an act that endangered public safety and breached the stipulations of Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.

As of the time of this report, no official response has been issued by El-Rufai or his legal representatives regarding the freshly filed charges.