The Pathfinder
Thursday April 23, 2026
Please, share this story:
The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over allegations of unlawfully intercepting a telephone conversation involving the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
El-Rufai was brought before a Federal High Court in Abuja on a five-count amended charge, marking an escalation from the initial three counts earlier filed by the prosecution.
At the commencement of proceedings, counsel to the DSS informed the court that the charges had been expanded, prompting Justice Joyce Abdulmalik to strike out the earlier counts and proceed with the amended charges.
Following his plea, the prosecution sought trial dates. However, proceedings were briefly stalled after defence counsel argued that he needed time to consult with his client, noting that El-Rufai had been in the custody of multiple security agencies.
The defence further told the court that a bail application had been filed earlier in February, along with a recent supplementary affidavit. The presiding judge, however, stated that the additional filing was not in her court records, raising procedural concerns.
Justice Abdulmalik criticised the defence for what she described as a lack of due diligence, cautioning against turning the courtroom into a media spectacle.
The matter was subsequently stood down to allow parties resolve issues surrounding the filing of the bail application.
The charges stem from remarks made by El-Rufai during a televised interview in February, where he claimed that associates had access to a conversation allegedly involving Ribadu directing security operatives to arrest him.
“He made the call because we listened to their calls,” El-Rufai had said. “The government thinks they are the only ones that listen to calls but we also have our ways.”
The case is expected to test legal boundaries around surveillance, privacy, and national security, as proceedings continue in Abuja.
—————————————-
Share your story or advertise with us:
08033783144 (WhatsApp)
08023469999(WhatsApp)
idowuadelusi@gmail.com,thepathfindernews0@gmail.com
Follow our reports also on X @idowuadelusi and Facebook (Idowu Oluwole Adelusi)
Instagram: https//www.instagram.com/idowuoluwoleadelusi