Court Shifts the El-Rufai Case – Here’s the New Direction

Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai is billed to appear at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, February 25, as the Department of State Services (DSS) moves to arraign him over allegations linked to cybercrime and breach of national security.

The new direction in the case is simple: the matter has now been formally placed before a trial judge and given a hearing date. 

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik will handle the case, and she announced the February 25 date after the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, assigned the file to her.

DSS Filed a Three-Count Charge

According to the details available, the DSS filed a three-count criminal charge against El-Rufai on Monday, February 16. The charge is tied to an allegation that El-Rufai participated in the wiretapping of the telephone line of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.

The suit is marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, meaning it has been officially registered as a criminal case in the Abuja division of the Federal High Court.

The Airport Arrest Claim

Before the charge was filed, El-Rufai had publicly alleged that there was an attempt to arrest and detain him at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Thursday, February 12. He also claimed the NSA ordered the move and alleged that the ICPC used the DSS to execute it.

In the same conversation, El-Rufai suggested he knew because “they listened to calls” and implied his side also had ways of listening. That statement has added heat to the controversy because it touches directly on surveillance and phone monitoring.

What the Court Date Changes

Once a judge is assigned and an arraignment date is fixed, the issue moves from interviews and social media into court procedure. From February 25, the focus becomes:

Did the alleged wiretapping happen?
Was El-Rufai involved as claimed?
What evidence will DSS present to back the three counts?

Public Reactions Are Already Split

Reactions have followed the usual pattern: some people say it is political, others argue the law must take its course, and many are demanding to see strong proof in court, especially because the allegation is serious and involves national security.

What Comes Next

The next major step is February 25: DSS is expected to arraign El-Rufai before Justice Abdulmalik at the Federal High Court in Abuja. 

After arraignment, the court will decide timelines for bail (if requested) and the next hearing dates as the case proceeds.