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.