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BREAKING: El-Rufai Asks Court to Quash DSS Charges, Demands ₦2bn Damages
BREAKING: El-Rufai Asks Court to Quash DSS Charges, Demands ₦2bn Damages
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has filed a motion before the Federal High Court seeking to quash criminal charges instituted against him by the Department of State Services (DSS), describing the case as incompetent, politically motivated, and a gross abuse of court process.
The application challenges Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, which is scheduled for hearing on February 25, 2026, before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.
In the motion dated February 18, El-Rufai is asking the court to strike out or dismiss the charge, arguing that it discloses no offence known to law and fails to establish a prima facie case. He is also seeking an order discharging him entirely from the suit.
Beyond the request for dismissal, the former governor is demanding ₦2 billion in compensation against the DSS, alleging the unconstitutional use of criminal proceedings to harass, intimidate, and embarrass him.
According to court documents, the motion is anchored on 17 grounds, including claims that the charge cites offences not recognised under Nigerian law, lacks evidentiary backing, suffers from duplicity, and was filed without proper prosecutorial competence. El-Rufai also alleged bad faith, selective prosecution, and political persecution.
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The application further argues that the prosecution violates several provisions of the 1999 Constitution, including Section 36(5) on the presumption of innocence, Section 36(11) on the right against self-incrimination, and Section 36(12), which requires that criminal offences must be clearly defined in written law. He also cited alleged breaches of Sections 39 and 40, which guarantee freedom of expression and freedom of association.
El-Rufai’s legal team confirmed that the Director-General of the DSS was formally notified of the application through a letter dated February 18, detailing the filing and listing his legal representatives.
The DSS had earlier fixed February 25 to arraign El-Rufai over alleged cybercrime and national security breaches. The agency filed a three-count charge, accusing the former governor of unlawfully intercepting the telephone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
According to the DSS, the alleged acts contravene provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, as well as the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
One of the counts relates to statements allegedly made by El-Rufai during a live interview on Arise TV, where he claimed to have overheard directives concerning his detention. He linked the claim to what he described as an attempted arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport following his return from Cairo, Egypt.
As of the time of filing this report, the DSS has not issued a public response to the motion. Legal observers say the case raises critical questions about national security prosecutions, cybercrime laws, and the balance between state power and fundamental rights in Nigeria.
BREAKING: El-Rufai Asks Court to Quash DSS Charges, Demands ₦2bn Damages
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Police Arrest Man Over Fake Presidency Number Plate in Abuja
ABUJA — The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested a man accused of impersonating a permanent secretary in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) after he was allegedly caught using a forged number plate bearing the inscription “PRESIDENCY”.
The suspect was arrested on October 20, 2026, after police operatives intercepted a Lexus LX570 sports utility vehicle (SUV) in Maitama District, Abuja, at about 8pm.
According to the police, the concealed number plate carried the registration number 10B218 FG.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, disclosed that preliminary investigations revealed that the documents presented to support the registration were allegedly forged.
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Adeh said the suspect had claimed to be the legitimate holder of the number plate, prompting further investigations that reportedly uncovered the alleged fraud and impersonation.
“The vehicle and its occupant were promptly arrested for investigation and subsequent prosecution,” the police said.
The command added that investigations were ongoing and that the suspect would be charged to court upon their conclusion.
The police urged residents to remain law-abiding, cooperate with security operatives and report suspicious activities to the nearest police station.
The arrest comes amid concerns over the unauthorised use of official government and diplomatic number plates in the FCT. Police authorities have previously raised concerns that such plates could be used by unauthorised individuals to evade scrutiny or facilitate criminal activities.
The suspect’s identity has not been publicly disclosed, and the allegations remain subject to the outcome of the police investigation and any subsequent court proceedings.
Police Arrest Man Over Fake Presidency Number Plate in Abuja
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Woman Arrested for Torching Ex-Boyfriend’s Home in Fit of Jealous Rage
Woman Arrested for Torching Ex-Boyfriend’s Home in Fit of Jealous Rage
Accra, Ghana — A routine breakup escalated into a catastrophic act of arson this week, leaving a young man homeless and his former girlfriend in police custody. The Ghana Police Service has arrested a young woman accused of deliberately setting her boyfriend’s rented apartment on fire after he ended their relationship. The shocking trigger for the split? The woman had answered a phone call on his mobile device without his permission.
According to preliminary police investigations, the couple became embroiled in a volatile and heated argument over the breach of privacy. The confrontation spiraled rapidly out of control when the boyfriend, reportedly furious that she had answered his phone, decided to end the relationship on the spot. Rather than accepting the breakup, the woman’s anger reportedly boiled over into a dangerous and premeditated rage.
In the aftermath of the breakup, authorities allege that the woman intentionally ignited a fire inside the man’s rented home in an act of vengeance. Eyewitnesses described a scene of sheer chaos as flames rapidly consumed the residence, forcing neighbors to flee and local fire services to be summoned to battle the inferno. Dramatic images from the scene reveal a landscape of utter devastation, with the apartment reduced to a pile of charred debris and twisted metal. While no casualties have been reported, the property damage is extensive, and the young man has effectively lost his home and belongings.
The Ghana Police Service acted swiftly following the incident, apprehending the young woman who is now in police custody facing potential charges of arson and destruction of property. Local neighbors have expressed profound shock at the severity of the attack, with one bewildered resident telling reporters, “It is just a phone call. To burn down a whole apartment because you were broken up with? It is a very sad day for us here.” The suspect is expected to be arraigned in court in the coming days as the police finalize their case, serving as a chilling reminder of the dangerous consequences of unchecked anger.
Woman Arrested for Torching Ex-Boyfriend’s Home in Fit of Jealous Rage
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Horror in Sokoto: Bandits Intercept Vehicle, Massacre All Passengers Returning from City
Horror in Sokoto: Bandits Intercept Vehicle, Massacre All Passengers Returning from City
SOKOTO — In a gruesome escalation of insecurity in the North-West, armed bandits have reportedly intercepted a vehicle and killed all passengers on board along a road leading to the Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
According to reports, the tragic incident occurred as the vehicle, a commercial transport conveying passengers, was returning from Sokoto city. The assailants, described as heavily armed, ambushed the vehicle, forcing it to a halt before opening fire on the occupants.
The incident was disclosed by Bakatsine, a conflict reporter covering northwestern Nigeria, who shared information about the attack and photographs of some of the deceased . According to the report, some of the victims were reportedly among the 3,000 people recruited by the Sokoto State Government who had been invited to Sokoto city for further screening and the collection of their documents . The passengers were said to have been travelling back home when the armed men intercepted their vehicle and opened fire on them.
The exact number of people killed in the attack has yet to be confirmed, and there has been no official confirmation from Nigerian authorities as of the time of reporting . Although photographs of some of the deceased have circulated following the incident, the total number of victims and their identities have yet to be independently established .
The attack highlights the persistent security challenges plaguing the region, where bandits frequently target highways and rural communities. Isa Local Government Area, which shares a border with Zamfara State, has been a notorious flashpoint for such criminal activities, including kidnapping, cattle rustling, and highway ambushes.
The reported killing also comes amid continuing concerns over attacks on civilians in other parts of northern Nigeria, particularly in communities affected by insurgency and banditry . Residents of the affected area have expressed deep grief and outrage over the continuous loss of lives, urging security agencies to intensify patrols along the Sokoto-Isa road and other vulnerable routes.
When contacted, the Sokoto State Police Command Public Relations Officer promised to provide details of the incident, stating that operatives have been deployed to the area to ascertain the facts and restore normalcy.
The mass killing underscores the urgent need for enhanced security measures to protect travelers and rural dwellers in Sokoto State and the broader North-West region. NewsTrends will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.
Horror in Sokoto: Bandits Intercept Vehicle, Massacre All Passengers Returning from City
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