Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai who was released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday night has been rearrested by the Department Of State Security Service (DSS).
Like it happened to Abubakar Malami, former Attorney General, El-Rufai who was detained by the EFCC over corruption allegations since Monday was reportedly granted bail at about 8 pm on Wednesday but was immediately picked up by operatives of the SSS who laid an ambush for him at the premises of the EFCC headquarters.
Sour es say the arrest by the Secret Service agency could be traced to allegations that he unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
However, recalling that the SSS had on Monday charged the former Kaduna Governor with cybercrimes before the Federal High Court in Abuja over the phone-tapping allegation.
The case, with number: FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, followed Mr El-Rufai’s remarks during a live Arise TV interview on Friday, where El-Rufai claimed that the NSA’s phone was tapped and that he heard the NSA directing security operatives to detain him.
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.
According to the DSS, 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 My has been fixed, and Mr El-Rufai has not publicly responded to the charges.
