Presidential aides have called for an urgent investigation into former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai after he appeared to admit on national television to intercepting communications of the National Security Adviser (NSA).
The revelation, made during a live broadcast, has ignited demands for a full probe from the highest levels of the government.
President Bola Tinubu’s aides argue that El-Rufai’s confession of action raises grave questions about potential breaches of national security protocols and illegal surveillance capabilities, at a time of heightened political jockeying ahead of the 2027 elections.
El Rufai, speaking during the interview said he listened to the NSA allegedly instructing security operatives to get him arrested.
“He (Ribadu) made the call because we listened to their call,” the former governor told his interviewer.
“Someone tapped his phone. The government listens to our calls all the time without a court order. Someone tapped his phone and told us that he gave the order,” the former Kaduna governor said.
Special Adviaer on Information and Strategy to the President Bayo Onanuga, led the charge on social media, saying “El-Rufai confesses to wire-tapping Nigeria’s NSA on TV. Does it mean that he and his collaborators have wire-tapping facilities?
“This should be thoroughly investigated and punishment meted out. El-Rufai is not too big to face the wrath of the law,” Onanuga wrote of his X formerly Twitter handle.
In a similar sentiment, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity Temitope Ajayi, described the comments as “disturbing”.
He noted El-Rufai’s own acknowledgement of the act’s illegality, adding that deeper inquiries could uncover a wider network.
NewsQuest report that Analysts have already cautioned that, if verified, the admission could expose systemic vulnerabilities in the country’s intelligence apparatus and fuel pre-election divisions.
