The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has asked former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to submit any evidence in his possession regarding the alleged procurement of a toxic chemical to the Department of State Services (DSS) for further investigation.
The request follows a petition submitted to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, in which El-Rufai claimed that approximately 10 kilograms of thallium sulphate—a highly toxic, colourless, and odourless chemical capable of causing death in small quantities—had been sourced from a supplier in Poland.
In a response dated February 13, 2026, signed by Brigadier-General O.M. Adesuyi on behalf of the NSA, ONSA denied involvement in the alleged transaction and confirmed that the matter had been formally referred to the DSS.
“I am directed to respectfully convey that ONSA has neither procured nor initiated any process for the purchase of such material, and has no intention of doing so,” the letter stated. It further noted that individuals with relevant information would be invited to provide evidence to assist the DSS in conducting a comprehensive investigation.
Sources reported that an initial attempt to deliver the letter to El-Rufai’s Abuja residence on Friday was unsuccessful, as security personnel on duty declined to accept it. The document was eventually received on his behalf on Sunday.
The development comes amid renewed claims by El-Rufai that he had access to an intercepted telephone conversation involving NSA Ribadu. During an appearance on Arise TV, the former governor alleged that the NSA’s phone had been tapped and that he overheard instructions purportedly directing security operatives to arrest him.
ONSA’s referral of the allegation to the DSS underscores the seriousness with which the government is treating the matter, signalling that a detailed probe will be conducted to establish the facts.
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