By Kamsi Anayo
The Federal Government has entered a three-count charge against the former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai, over his alleged unlawful interception of the phone communication of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
In the charge filed on Monday before Federal High Court, Abuja, through the Department of State Services (DSS), the former governor, who also served as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, was said to have committed the crime with some persons who are currently on the run.
The FG told the court that the defendant had, on Feb. 13, when he appeared as a guest on Arise TV station’s Prime Time programme, admitted his complicity in the crime.
He was accused of committing an offence under section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act 2024.
In count-two of the charge, the former governor, who is a frontline member of a coalition of opposition politicians that are dissatisfied with President Bola Tinubu’s administration, was said to be aware that someone unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s communications, but failed to report the crime to the relevant security agencies.
It was further alleged that by using technical equipment to intercept the NSA’s calls, the defendants endangered public safety and national security, and instilled “reasonable apprehension” among Nigerians, an offence in breach of section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003.
