El-Rufai faces probe calls over claim of bugged phone

Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, is facing mounting criticism after alleging that the phone of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, was secretly tapped.

Presidential aides, political figures and security experts say the remark — made during an interview on Arise TV Morning Show — amounts to an admission of unlawful surveillance and should be formally investigated.

Speaking on Friday, El-Rufai claimed he became aware of an alleged plan to arrest him through a leaked conversation intercepted from Ribadu’s phone.

“Ribadu made the call because we listened to their calls,” he said, adding that although such actions are technically illegal, governments routinely monitor communications without court orders.

His comments have since stirred debate within political and security circles, with analysts warning that any unauthorised interception involving the NSA could constitute a serious breach of national security.

The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, questioned whether El-Rufai and his associates possessed wire-tapping capabilities and called for a full investigation.

Similarly, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, said the former governor openly admitted to benefiting from an illegal act and should be made to identify those responsible.

A retired director of the Department of State Services described the allegation as “extremely grave,” warning that compromising the communications of the NSA could expose sensitive operations, intelligence sources and national security plans.

He recommended an immediate forensic review of devices, suspension of compromised accounts and an emergency integrity assessment across intelligence agencies.

Another retired military intelligence officer cautioned that such breaches could weaken Nigeria’s international security partnerships, particularly with allies such as the United States, and potentially disrupt intelligence sharing.

Security analyst Kabiru Adamu noted that while interception technology exists, it is highly sophisticated and typically restricted to governments or authorised intelligence bodies. If El-Rufai’s claims are verified, he said, legal consequences could follow.

He also warned that any move to question the former governor might be interpreted politically, potentially heightening tensions ahead of the 2027 elections.

Constitutional lawyer AbdulAzeez Rahman stressed that unlawful phone interception violates Section 37 of Nigeria’s Constitution, which guarantees privacy of communications. He cited the Nigerian Communications Act and Cybercrime Act, both of which criminalise unauthorised interception and provide penalties including fines and imprisonment.

Rahman added that evidence obtained through illegal surveillance may be inadmissible in court.

Meanwhile, former Kano State governor Abdullahi Ganduje called for El-Rufai to be investigated after the latter linked him to the disappearance of Kaduna-based activist Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata.

In a statement, Ganduje’s camp described the accusation as reckless and politically motivated, arguing that responsibility for security in Kaduna at the time lay with the Kaduna State Government.

With calls for accountability growing, observers say the controversy risks deepening political divisions and raising fresh concerns about the misuse of surveillance tools within Nigeria’s security architecture. Whether authorities launch a formal probe may determine how the matter unfolds in the coming weeks.