The Federal High Court of Nigeria has received charges filed by the Federal Government of Nigeria against Mallam Nasir el-Rufai for allegedly intercepting the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. The charges were filed on February 16, 2026, in Abuja.

According to court documents, el-Rufai faces three counts:

Count One alleges that on February 13, 2026, while appearing as a guest on Prime Time Programme in Abuja, el-Rufai admitted during the interview that he and his associates unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s phone communications, an offence punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act.

Count Two states that El-Rufai, in the same interview, acknowledged knowing individuals who also unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s phone communications but failed to report them to the relevant security agencies, contrary to Section 27(b) of the Cybercrimes Amendment Act, 2024.

Count Three alleges that sometime in 2026, El-Rufai and others still at large used technical systems that compromised public safety and national security, creating reasonable apprehension of insecurity among Nigerians, by unlawfully intercepting the NSA’s phone communications. This is cited as a violation of Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act.

The prosecution is led by ME Ernest, Esq., O.M. Owan, Esq., U.M. Bulla, Esq., C.S. Eze, PhD, and E.G. Orubor, Esq., representing the Department of State Services, with offices at No. 1 Maitama Avenue, Aso Drive, Abuja.

The court documents have been served on the defendant, with proceedings now pending.