General News
Calls Mount for Probe as El-Rufai Alleges Phone Tapping of NSA
Former Nasir El-Rufai is facing mounting criticism after claiming that the phone of Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, was secretly intercepted, a remark that has sparked calls for an official investigation.
El-Rufai made the allegation during an appearance on the Arise TV Morning Show, where he said he became aware of a supposed plan to arrest him through a leaked conversation obtained from Ribadu’s phone.
“Ribadu made the call because we listened to their calls,” he said, adding that although such surveillance is technically illegal, governments often monitor communications without court orders.
The statement has drawn sharp reactions from presidential aides, security experts and political figures, many of whom argue that the comment amounts to an admission of unlawful interception and warrants formal scrutiny.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, questioned whether El-Rufai or his associates possessed wire-tapping capabilities and urged authorities to investigate. Similarly, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, said the former governor should identify those responsible if he benefited from illegally obtained information.
A retired director of the Department of State Services described the allegation as “extremely grave,” warning that compromising the NSA’s communications could expose sensitive intelligence operations, sources and national security plans. He recommended a forensic review of affected devices and an integrity assessment across relevant agencies.
Another retired military intelligence officer cautioned that any breach could undermine Nigeria’s security partnerships, particularly with allies such as the United States, and potentially disrupt intelligence sharing.
Security analyst Kabiru Adamu noted that communication-interception technology is highly sophisticated and usually restricted to governments or authorised intelligence bodies. If verified, he said, the claims could carry legal consequences. He also warned that any probe could be interpreted politically, especially as the 2027 elections approach.
Constitutional lawyer AbdulAzeez Rahman stated that unlawful interception violates Section 37 of the Constitution of Nigeria, which guarantees privacy of communications. He added that both the Nigerian Communications Act and the Cybercrime Act criminalise unauthorised surveillance and provide penalties including fines and imprisonment, while evidence obtained illegally may be inadmissible in court.
Meanwhile, former Kano State governor Abdullahi Ganduje has also called for an investigation after El-Rufai linked him to the disappearance of Kaduna-based activist Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata. Ganduje’s camp dismissed the allegation as reckless and politically motivated, insisting that responsibility for security in Kaduna at the time rested with the state government.
Observers say the controversy risks widening political divisions and raising renewed concerns over the misuse of surveillance tools within Nigeria’s security system. Whether authorities open a formal inquiry may determine how the situation develops in the coming weeks.
Supporters of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El‑Rufai were dispersed with tear gas on Monday during a protest at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Abuja.
The demonstrators had gathered at the anti-graft agency’s office while the ex-governor honored an invitation to respond to allegations of multi-billion-naira fraud and corruption linked to his time in office. Security operatives moved in after the crowd reportedly became rowdy, firing tear gas to break up the gathering.
The development follows a weekend incident in which operatives of the Department of State Services allegedly attempted to arrest the former governor at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport shortly after he returned from Cairo, Egypt. He was not detained.
In a media interview after the airport episode, El-Rufai accused Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, of being the “brains” behind what he described as efforts to target him. Authorities have not publicly responded to that claim.
Officials have yet to issue a formal statement on Monday’s confrontation, and there were no immediate reports of injuries or arrests.
The Nigerian Senate has called on the management of the North-Central Development Commission (NCDC) to prioritise investments in agriculture and security as it implements its 2026 budget.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on NCDC, Titus Zam, made the call when the commission’s management appeared before the committee to defend its 2026 budget estimates.
Speaking after the session, Zam said the committee had reviewed all items in the estimates and found them relevant to the needs of the North-Central region.
“We have considered all the items on the estimates and found them very relevant and useful for the north-central region,” he said.
“As a committee overseeing this commission, we have requested them to prioritise their expenditures in line with their mandate so that people of the north-central region will benefit from their services and have value for resources that are allocated to them.”
He stressed that the commission’s development mandate must be sector-driven and not operate in isolation, noting that it should address key areas of the economy.
Zam listed priority sectors to include agriculture, security, health, education, public infrastructure, and other essential social services required by residents of the region.
“You know that north central is mostly agricultural and so agriculture must take pride of place, and it has been embedded in their budget,” he said.
He added that the commission was also considering collaboration with security experts and other stakeholders in the region to support security agencies in carrying out their responsibilities.
However, the lawmaker expressed dissatisfaction with the implementation of the capital component of the commission’s 2025 budget, though he acknowledged that implementation challenges affected the national budget generally during the period.
According to him, the committee reviewed the commission’s total estimate of ₦140 billion for the 2026 financial year and approved the figure for appropriation in the interest of the region.
“This is the resolution of the committee: we hereby approve the total figure of ₦140 billion for the 2026 financial year for the commission,” he said.
General News
Kaduna Victims’ Coalition Demands Probe of Alleged Abuses Under Former Governor el-Rufai
A civil society alliance, the Kaduna Victims’ Coalition, has called for full accountability over alleged human rights abuses committed during the administration of former Kaduna State governor Nasir el‑Rufai, insisting that survivors and families of victims will no longer remain silent.
In a statement issued Monday, the coalition said it represents “countless individuals, families, and communities” who endured hardship, fear, and loss during el-Rufai’s tenure as governor of Kaduna State between 2015 and 2023. It said its members include community leaders, business figures, public servants, traditional rulers, clerics, academics, journalists, and lawyers.
High-Profile Cases Cited
The group highlighted several cases it described as emblematic of impunity during the period. Among them is the killing of Maiwada Raphael Galadima, the Agwam Adara, who was abducted in October 2018 and later murdered despite payment of ransom. According to the coalition, the incident occurred amid disputes surrounding restructuring of traditional institutions, including conversion of the Adara Chiefdom into an emirate structure. It alleged that suspects arrested in connection with the killing have not been successfully prosecuted and that their whereabouts remain unknown.
The statement also referenced the disappearance of Abubakar Idris, a lecturer at Federal University Dutsenma who was abducted from his residence in Barnawa, Kaduna, on August 2, 2019. The coalition noted he has remained missing for nearly seven years and that August 2026 will mark the seventh anniversary of his disappearance, when Nigerian law may presume death in absentia.
It further cited a December 23, 2019 social media post by Bashir el‑Rufai, son of the former governor, which it said was widely perceived as dismissive of public concern over Idris’ disappearance.
Allegations of Wider Pattern
The coalition accused the former administration of presiding over what it described as a pattern of arbitrary abductions, persecution of critics, reprisal violence, unlawful demolitions, mass dismissals of workers without due process, forced sackings of perceived opponents, and displacement of residents into exile. It alleged such actions bypassed constitutional safeguards and enabled unchecked executive power.
It expressed concern over what it called attempts to portray the former governor as a champion of due process and human rights, arguing that victims and their families are still seeking truth and justice.
Demands and Next Steps
The coalition said its primary demand is “accountability under the rule of law,” including independent investigations, prosecutions where evidence supports charges, and closure for affected families. It pledged to cooperate with law enforcement agencies, judicial bodies, and human rights institutions by providing testimonies and evidence.
Signatories
The statement was signed by several individuals and organizations, including Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, Audu Maikori, Gloria Ballason, Steven Kefas, Luka Binniyat, Segun Onibiyo, as well as groups such as House of Justice, Community Development & Rights Advocacy Foundation, Resilient Aid and Dialogue Initiative, Southern Kaduna Indigenously, Progressive Forum (SKIPFo), and Atrocities Watch Africa.
The coalition concluded with hashtags calling for justice and accountability, declaring that its campaign seeks to ensure that alleged abuses are investigated and that those responsible face due process under Nigerian law.