Nasir El Rufai Pleads Not Guilty to Security Breach and Communication Interception Charges in Abuja

Former Governor El-Rufai pleads not guilty to DSS charges in Abuja. Read about the alleged security breach and the upcoming May trial dates.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 23, 2026, 7:55 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Politics Nigeria

A Judicial Confrontation Over National Security Allegations

The legal battle surrounding Nasir El Rufai intensified on Thursday as the former governor appeared before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik to face a formal arraignment. Represented by the Department of State Services, the prosecution presented an updated five count charge that shifts the focus of the case toward serious breaches of the Cybercrimes Amendment Act of 2024. El Rufai maintained a firm stance throughout the proceedings, entering a not guilty plea to every count leveled against him, which sets the stage for a high profile trial in the nation's capital.

The Tactical Shift to an Amended Prosecution Strategy

During the hearing, the lead prosecutor, Oluwole Aladedoye, successfully moved to replace an initial three count charge with a more comprehensive five count document filed earlier this month. This procedural maneuver indicates a broadening of the state's case, specifically targeting actions allegedly admitted by the defendant during a televised interview in February. According to Aladedoye, the updated charges are necessary to accurately reflect the gravity of the unauthorized activities that the government claims compromised the integrity of national security communications.

Specific Allegations of Intercepting the National Security Adviser

The heart of the prosecution’s case rests on claims that El Rufai intentionally accessed the private communications of Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser. The charge sheet cites an interview on Arise TV’s Prime Time Programme on February 13, 2026, as the moment the former governor reportedly admitted to these actions. By allegedly using technical systems to monitor Ribadu without legal authorization, the state argues that El Rufai violated the Nigerian Communications Act of 2003, creating a reasonable apprehension of insecurity across the country.