The Department of State Services (DSS) on Thursday arraigned former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, before the Federal High Court in Abuja on an amended five-count charge bordering on alleged unlawful interception of communications and breach of national security.
El-Rufai, who appeared before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
At the resumed hearing, DSS counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye (SAN), informed the court that the matter was slated for the defendant to take his plea, adding that a further amended five-count charge had been filed on April 13.
He urged the court to replace the earlier three-count charge with the amended one.
Count four of the amended charges reads: “That you, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, adult, male, intentionally and without authorization, intercepted the communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, as admitted by you on 13 February, 2026, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV Station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.”
Count five reads: “That you, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, adult, male and others still at large, sometime in 2026, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did use technical equipment or systems which compromised public safety, national security and instilled reasonable apprehension of insecurity among Nigerians by unlawfully intercepting the communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to which you admitted during an interview on 13 February, 2026, on Arise TV Station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.”
Counsel to the defendant, Oluwole Iyamu (SAN), confirmed he had been served with the amended charge and stated that he did not oppose the substitution.
Following the application, the court struck out the earlier three-count charge and proceeded to read the amended counts to the former governor, who again entered a “not guilty” plea.
The prosecution subsequently requested three consecutive trial dates, but the defence objected, arguing that the defendant’s access to legal counsel could be limited due to his 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 found during proceedings.
However, the DSS said it did not oppose the bail application.
In a separate motion, the prosecution sought an order to protect the identities of two witnesses by excluding their names from public records and replacing them with pseudonyms, citing safety concerns for their families.
The defence opposed the request, arguing that it violated the constitutional right of an accused person to know his accusers and that no concrete evidence had been presented to justify fears of targeted attacks.
The defence further urged the court to compel the prosecution to disclose proof of evidence to enable proper trial preparation, an application the prosecution opposed, describing it as unrelated to the filed processes.
Additionally, the defence filed an application seeking to quash the amended charge, while the prosecution urged the court to dismiss it, arguing that it lacked merit and could not stand after the plea had been taken.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the case to May 18, 19, and 20 for hearing.
