The legal troubles for former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai deepened today, Friday, April 24, 2026, as he remains at the center of multiple high-stakes criminal trials in both Abuja and Kaduna.
Following his arraignment yesterday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the former governor is now battling charges ranging from cybercrime to large-scale corruption.
The Abuja Trial: Phone-Tapping & National Security
In a significant development yesterday, Thursday, April 23, the Department of State Services (DSS) docked El-Rufai on an amended five-count charge (marked FHC/ABJ/99/2026).
- The Allegation: The DSS accused El-Rufai of the unlawful interception of telephone communications belonging to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
- The Evidence: The prosecution cited an Arise TV interview from February 13, 2026, where El-Rufai reportedly admitted to listening to the NSA’s calls and knowing the individuals who tapped the line.
- The Charges: He is being prosecuted under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, for acts that allegedly “instilled reasonable apprehension of insecurity” among Nigerians.
- The Plea: El-Rufai pleaded not guilty before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik. While the DSS did not oppose his bail application, the case has been adjourned to May 18, 19, and 20, 2026, for trial.
The Kaduna Trial: Corruption & Bail Denial
While the Abuja case is gaining momentum, El-Rufai is simultaneously facing an uphill battle in Kaduna:
- Bail Rejected: On April 21, 2026, a Kaduna State High Court denied his bail application in a separate nine-count charge filed by the ICPC involving alleged fraud and abuse of office.
- Flight Risk Concerns: The judge, Justice D.H. Khobo, ruled that the gravity of the charges and “credible fears of witness interference” outweighed the former governor’s plea for release.
- The Custody Loop: El-Rufai remains in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), where he has been held since February 19, barring a brief compassionate release in March following the death of his mother.
The “Spy Equipment” Controversy
The case has been further complicated by a dispute over a search of El-Rufai’s Abuja residence. While the ICPC claimed in court to have recovered “electronic magnetic equipment capable of tapping conversations,” the El-Rufai family has dismissed these claims as falsehoods, stating that agents only removed “old personal mobile phones and laptops.”
