Dare Babalola
The Department of State Services (DSS) arrested former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai shortly after his release by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday night.
The former Kaduna State governor has been detained since Monday by the EFCC over corruption allegations.
El-Rufai walked out of EFCC custody at 8 pm on Wednesday, only to be snatched by the security agents waiting in the wings, witnesses told Premium Times.
The swift handover suggests a coordinated operation, with the security agents laying in wait to take him into custody.
The politician’s arrest by the SSS is linked to allegations that he unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
On Monday, the DSS charged him with cybercrimes before the Federal High Court in Abuja over the phone-tapping allegation.
The case, filed as FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, stems from El-Rufai’s explosive claims during a live Arise TV interview on Friday, where he alleged that the NSA’s phone was tapped and that he overheard the NSA ordering security operatives to detain him, prompting authorities to take swift action.
He alleged that the directive prompted an attempted arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Thursday, where he exchanged heated words with security personnel. Witnesses said officials briefly confiscated his international passport before escorting him out amid chants from supporters.
In response to the interview, DSS prosecutors filed cybercrime charges against Mr El-Rufai on Monday.
The prosecution said he admitted to intercepting the NSA’s communications, failed to report others who conducted unlawful interceptions, and compromised public safety and national security by using technical systems to tap the NSA’s phone.
The alleged acts were said to violate provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003. No arraignment date has been fixed, and Mr El-Rufai has not publicly responded to the charges.
