Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, on Tuesday said the Federal Government has no interest in prosecuting former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
El-Rufai, 66, faces cybercrime charges over the alleged unlawful interception of the phone communications of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
The case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026 was filed by the Federal Government on Monday, barely three days after El-Rufai said during a live interview that the NSA’s phone conversation was intercepted, and that he heard the NSA directing security operatives to detain him.
Weighing in on the matter during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, Effiong said the Nigerian government has not shown seriousness with the case.
Speaking further, the lawyer argued that the charges the government filed against the former governor through the State Security Services (SSS) does not have some particulars.
In the first count, the government alleged that El-Rufai admitted during an appearance on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme on 13 February that he and others unlawfully intercepted Mr Ribadu’s phone communications.
Prosecutors said the alleged act contravenes Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.
In count two, SSS accused the former governor of stating during the same interview that he knew and associated with an individual who unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s communications but failed to report the person to security agencies, contrary to Section 27(b) of the Cybercrimes Act.
A date for his arraignment has not yet been fixed.
Credit: channelstv.com
