Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has been arraigned by the Department of State Services (DSS) over allegations that he unlawfully accessed the telephone conversation of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, in a case now before a Federal High Court in Abuja.
The case, which has drawn significant public attention, was brought before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik on Thursday, where El-Rufai was formally charged on an amended five-count charge.
At the start of proceedings, the prosecution informed the court that the original three-count charge had been revised and expanded to five counts. The judge subsequently struck out the earlier charge before proceeding with the new one.
El-Rufai, who appeared in court, pleaded not guilty to all five counts brought against him.
The allegations stem from claims that the former governor unlawfully interfered with private communications involving the NSA, an accusation that raises serious national security concerns.
The matter is linked to comments El-Rufai made in February during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time, where he alleged that his phone had been wiretapped. He claimed he overheard the NSA instructing security operatives to arrest him.
Those remarks sparked controversy at the time, prompting scrutiny over possible breaches of privacy and national security protocols.
The DSS prosecution is expected to present further evidence as the case progresses, while the court has yet to fix a date for continuation of hearing.
The development adds a new layer of tension between the former governor and Nigeria’s security establishment, turning what began as a public allegation into a formal legal battle.
