The Department of State Services (DSS) has formally charged Nasir El-Rufai, the immediate past governor of Kaduna State, before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The accusations centre on El-Rufai's alleged involvement in tapping the phone lines of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
The DSS contends that El-Rufai intentionally and illegally disrupted the communications of the NSA, Nuhu Ribadu. This alleged interference is said to violate the Designation and Protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure Order, 2024, gazetted as Statutory Instrument No. 21 of 2024. The DSS cited an admission made by El-Rufai on Arise TV's Prime Time Programme in Abuja on February 13 as evidence.
According to the prosecution, the alleged offence breaches Paragraph 7 (b) & (c) of the Critical National Information Infrastructure Order, 2024, and is punishable under Section 5 (1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.
El-Rufai entered a plea of not guilty when the charge was read to him. The prosecution counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye (SAN), requested three days for the trial to commence.
Earlier, Aladedoye informed the court that the ex-governor was being arraigned under an amended five-count charge.
In response, El-Rufai's defence counsel, Oluwole Iyamu (SAN), pointed out that his client had been in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC). He urged the court to consider his client's bail application, which was filed on February 17.
Additionally, the prosecution sought a court order to protect the identities of witnesses slated to testify. They requested measures such as shielding faces and using pseudonyms to prevent potential retaliation from the defendant's supporters.
However, the defence counsel objected to this application, arguing that it would infringe upon the defendant's constitutional right to know his accusers. They also asserted that there was no evidence presented to the court indicating that El-Rufai possessed any cult-like following or posed a threat during the proceedings.
Following the arguments from both sides, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik scheduled the next court dates for May 18, 19, and 20.
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