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By Correspondent in Abuja.
The Department of State Services (DSS) on Wednesday night re-arrested former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, moments after he was released on bail by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Our correspondent recalls that
El-Rufai had been in EFCC custody since Monday over allegations of corruption.
He was reportedly granted bail at about 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday but was immediately taken into custody by DSS operatives at the premises of the anti-graft agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
Sources said the DSS action is linked to allegations that the former governor unlawfully intercepted the telephone communications of Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
Earlier on Monday, the DSS filed cybercrime charges against El-Rufai before the Federal High Court in Abuja over the alleged phone-tapping incident.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, followed remarks he made during an interview on Arise TV last week.
During the interview, El-Rufai claimed that the NSA’s phone had been tapped and that he overheard Ribadu directing security operatives to detain him.
He further alleged that the directive led to an attempted arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Thursday, where he reportedly had a heated exchange with security personnel.
Witnesses said officials briefly seized his international passport before escorting him out of the airport amid chants from supporters.
In its charge, the DSS alleged that El-Rufai admitted to intercepting the NSA’s communications, failed to report others involved in unlawful interception, and compromised public safety and national security by deploying technical systems to tap the NSA’s phone.
The alleged offences are said to contravene provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024, as well as the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
As of press time, no date has been fixed for his arraignment, and El-Rufai has yet to publicly respond to the charges.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
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