February 16, (THEWILL) — Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has alleged that the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, was directly involved in a directive that leaked through a tapped phone.
Speaking on a national television at the weeken, El-Rufai claimed his associates intercepted communications linking Ribadu to a plan to arrest him.
“Ribadu made the call because we listened to their calls. The government thinks that they’re the only ones that listen to calls. But we also have our ways,” El-Rufai said, claiming that Ribadu gave the order to arrest him upon arriving at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja from a trip to Cairo, Egypt last week.
Acknowledging the legality of such interceptions, he added, “That technically is illegal. I know, but the government does it all the time. They listen to our calls all the time without a court order. But someone tapped his phone and told us that he gave the order.”
El-Rufai’s disclosure has since ignited reactions within political and security circles, with analysts warning that, if substantiated, the interception could amount to a grave breach of national security protocol and further inflame political tension ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Bayo Onanuga and Temitope Ajayi, respectively, responded to El-Rufai’s claim on their social media handles, calling for thorough investigation and possible prosecution.
Reacting, a retired Director of the Department of State Services, Abdulrasaq Salami, described the former governor’s statement as “extremely grave.”
He said, tapping the NSA’s phone is a grave breach of national security protocol that requires investigation because it can trigger criminal probes and forensics across Nigeria’s intelligence architecture.
According to Salami, intercepting the communications of the National Security Adviser, the country’s top security policy official, potentially exposes operational plans, sources and methods, undermines the confidentiality on which intelligence and crisis responses depend.
He called for the immediate suspension of any accounts, credentials or devices believed compromised and order urgent forensics sweep of affected lines and devices as well as the convening of an emergency, classified integrity review chaired by the NSA, including the SSS, NIA, DSS and the Attorney-General. Freeze any routine re-assignment of sensitive tasks until a preliminary damage assessment is complete.
Also reacting, a retired senior military officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, warned that tapping the NSA’s phone have implications that could affect Nigeria’s international security partnerships.
According to him, the fallout could affect the country’s counter-insurgency collaboration with foreign partners, including the United States. Wider implications include damaged international cooperation. Partners may pause intelligence sharing until they are satisfied that sensitive channels are secure.
It is surprising how quickly El-Rufai has changed from being an accuser to the accused in a matter that required just a little caution and tact. What if the Federal Government orders an investigation and eventually finds him guilty of breaching national security protocols? What happens next? There is no gainsaying the fact that the former Kaduna State Governor is in a big mess right now. Much more worrisome is the implication of all these for natIonal security. It is a matter that should be treated with all the seriousness it deserves.
