A political storm is brewing following explosive allegations by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, that the telephone of Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, was bugged.
The claim, made during a live television interview, has triggered widespread condemnation from presidential aides, legal practitioners, and security experts, with many calling for an urgent investigation and potential prosecution.
El-Rufai, now a chieftain of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the startling disclosure during an appearance on Arise TV on Friday. He stated that he became aware of an alleged plot to arrest him upon his return to Nigeria from Cairo through a leaked conversation purportedly intercepted from the NSA’s phone.
The former governor claimed the intelligence prompted him to resist security operatives who attempted to detain him at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Thursday.
The revelation has sent shockwaves through political and security establishments, with analysts warning that any unauthorized interception of the NSA’s communications would constitute a grave breach of national security protocols. Such an act, if proven, could further inflame political tensions already simmering ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Security experts note that the NSA’s communications are classified and protected under Nigeria’s Official Secrets Act and various cybersecurity regulations.
Unauthorized access to such sensitive channels could compromise national security operations and expose the country’s intelligence architecture to adversaries.
Reacting swiftly to El-Rufai’s claim, senior presidential aides publicly challenged the former governor’s account and called for a thorough investigation.
In a pointed post on social media Friday night, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, suggested that El-Rufai had effectively incriminated himself.
“El-Rufai has confessed on television to wire-tapping Nigeria’s NSA. Does this mean he and his collaborators possess wire-tapping facilities?
This matter should be thoroughly investigated and appropriate sanctions applied. El-Rufai is not above the law,” Onanuga wrote.
Echoing this sentiment, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, emphasized that the allegation, if true, points to a serious criminal enterprise targeting the nation’s top security official.
Both aides insisted that the former governor must provide evidence to substantiate his claim or face legal consequences.
Prominent legal practitioners have also weighed in on the controversy, with many describing El-Rufai’s disclosure as alarming and potentially actionable.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Mike Ozekhome, stated that the interception of any person’s communication without lawful authority constitutes a criminal offense under Nigeria’s Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015.
“If El-Rufai indeed accessed intercepted communications of the NSA, he may be complicit in a serious felony. The burden now rests on him to prove that he came by this information lawfully, or face investigation and prosecution,” Ozekhome explained.
In a separate but related development, former Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has firmly rejected allegations made by El-Rufai linking him to the disappearance of Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata.
El-Rufai had, during his media appearances, suggested that Ganduje might have been involved in the unresolved case of the activist, who was known for his vocal criticism of the Kaduna State government.
The former Kaduna governor insinuated that questions surrounding Dadiyata’s fate should be directed at Ganduje.
Reacting through a statement issued on Saturday, Ganduje’s media office, signed by former Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Muhammad Garba, described the allegations as “reckless, unfounded, and a clear attempt to shift responsibility for an incident that occurred entirely within Kaduna State.”
The statement emphasized that Dadiyata lived and operated in Kaduna, where he was widely known for directing his criticisms at the Kaduna State government and its officials.
“Everyone in Kaduna knew the nature of the criticism he made and who it was directed at,” Garba stated, noting that responsibility for security in Kaduna at the time rested with the state government and relevant federal security agencies operating there.
“There is no credible record suggesting that the activist’s primary focus was the Kano state government or Dr. Ganduje,” the statement added, calling for careful scrutiny of El-Rufai’s recent remarks and insisting that such serious allegations must be supported by verifiable evidence rather than political rhetoric.
The twin controversies have deepened the political rift between El-Rufai and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which he helped build before his recent defection to the ADC. His allegations against Ribadu and Ganduje—both influential figures within the APC—have been interpreted by political analysts as part of a broader strategy to destabilize the ruling party ahead of the 2027 elections.
However, observers caution that the NSA phone bugging allegation, in particular, could backfire spectacularly on the former governor if he is unable to provide credible evidence. “This is not a game of political chess anymore; this touches on national security. If El-Rufai cannot prove his claim, he may find himself on the wrong side of the law,” said Dr. Chidi Amuta, a political analyst.
As of press time, the Office of the National Security Adviser had not issued an official response to El-Rufai’s allegations. Security agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force, are believed to be monitoring the situation closely.
The controversy adds another layer of complexity to Nigeria’s already tense political landscape, as the nation approaches the 2027 election cycle with deepening polarization and heightened rhetoric between the ruling party and a resurgent opposition.
