Former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has come under heavy criticism following his claim that the telephone conversation of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, was intercepted.
As reported by PUNCH, Presidential aides, senior politicians and security experts have urged relevant authorities to investigate the former governor, arguing that his remarks on national television amount to a direct admission of involvement in unlawful surveillance.
El-Rufai, who featured on Arise Television on Friday, alleged that he became aware of a plan to arrest him upon his return to Nigeria through information obtained from a monitored call allegedly made by the NSA.
According to him, Ribadu had issued directives concerning his arrest during the phone conversation.
When the interviewer pointed out that tapping such a call would be illegal, El-Rufai reportedly acknowledged the impropriety but claimed that unlawful surveillance was commonplace.
His comments have since generated controversy within political and security circles, with analysts warning that, if true, the alleged interception represents a serious breach of national security protocols and could heighten political tension ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, reacted strongly to the development on their respective social media platforms.
Onanuga questioned whether El-Rufai and his associates possessed wire-tapping capabilities and called for a comprehensive investigation, insisting that no individual is above the law.
Ajayi also faulted the former governor’s remarks, noting that El-Rufai admitted to benefiting from an illegal interception.
He added that if invited for questioning, the former governor might portray any legal action as political persecution.
Security experts have equally expressed alarm over the implications of the claim.
A retired Director of the Department of State Services, Abdulrasaq Salami, described the allegation as grave, stressing that intercepting the communications of the nation’s top security adviser could expose sensitive operational details, intelligence sources and methods.
He said such a development would warrant immediate forensic examination of communication channels and a comprehensive review of security protocols to assess possible damage.
According to Salami, the issue transcends political debate and demands institutional action to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s intelligence framework.
A retired senior military intelligence officer, who requested anonymity, warned that the matter could also strain Nigeria’s relationships with foreign intelligence partners.
He explained that compromised communication channels might lead to reduced intelligence sharing and weaken counter-terrorism collaboration.
Meanwhile, former Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, also demanded an investigation after El-Rufai allegedly linked him to the disappearance of Kaduna-based activist, Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata.
In a statement issued on Saturday by Muhammad Garba, a former Kano Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ganduje dismissed the allegation as baseless and politically motivated, noting that the incident occurred in Kaduna State during El-Rufai’s tenure as governor.
The controversy has further deepened political tensions, with observers calling for a transparent probe to clarify the claims and protect national security interests.