The Presidency on Friday demanded a formal investigation and potential prosecution of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, following what it described as his open admission of illegal wire-tapping of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The call was made by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, via his verified X handle, @aonanuga1956. Onanuga warned that El-Rufai’s statements suggested he and unnamed collaborators may have access to wire-tapping facilities, a development that poses serious national security risks.
“El-Rufai confesses to wire-tapping Nigeria’s NSA on TV. Does it mean he and his collaborators have wire-tapping facilities? This should be thoroughly investigated and punishment meted out. El-Rufai is not too big to face the wrath of the law,” Onanuga wrote.
The reaction followed El-Rufai’s interview with Charles Aniagolu on Arise Television, during which the former governor alleged that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had “procured” the Department of State Services (DSS) to arrest him. He claimed the NSA, Ribadu, “made the call and ordered” the arrest.
Pressed on how he knew Ribadu made the call, El-Rufai responded: “He made the call, because we listen to their calls. The government thinks that they’re the only ones that listen to calls, but we also have our ways. He made the call. He gave the order.” When asked directly if he tapped the phone, he replied, “Someone tapped his phone.”
While acknowledging that wire-tapping is technically illegal, he stated, “I know, but the government does it all the time… they tap our calls all the time without a court order.”
El-Rufai’s comments have sparked concern across political and security circles, with analysts warning that if confirmed, the interception could constitute a serious breach of national security, compromise sensitive intelligence, and inflame political tensions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Retired DSS Director, Abdulrasaq Salami, described the statements as “extremely grave,” emphasizing that unauthorized access to the NSA’s communications undermines operational confidentiality and could trigger criminal probes and forensics within Nigeria’s intelligence architecture.
A retired senior military intelligence officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, warned that the breach could affect Nigeria’s international security partnerships and compromise operational intelligence sharing with allies, including the United States.
Security analyst Kabiru Adamu noted that while the technology to intercept high-level communications exists, it is restricted and usually in the domain of governments or high-level actors. He said if El-Rufai’s claim is verified, it could warrant a full investigation.
Constitutional lawyer AbdulAzeez Rahman highlighted the illegality of such actions under Nigerian law. Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution guarantees privacy of telephone conversations, while the Nigerian Communications Act and the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act criminalize unlawful interception. Rahman stressed that evidence obtained unlawfully may be inadmissible in court.
Meanwhile, former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has also called for El-Rufai’s investigation after being implicated in the disappearance of Kaduna-based activist Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata. Ganduje, through former Kano commissioner Muhammad Garba, described the allegation as “reckless, unfounded and a clear attempt to shift responsibility for an incident that occurred entirely within Kaduna State.”
Garba emphasized that Dadiyata’s criticisms were primarily directed at the Kaduna State Government, not Ganduje’s administration in Kano, and urged that El-Rufai’s recent claims be supported by verifiable evidence rather than political rhetoric.
The Presidency has urged law enforcement and intelligence agencies to investigate the claims urgently, while analysts warn that any politicization of the matter could further destabilize the political climate as the nation approaches the 2027 general elections.
This incident underscores rising concerns over the weaponization of surveillance technology and the potential misuse of intelligence tools for political purposes in Nigeria.
