₦airaland Forum

Explosive Wiretap Claim Rocks Presidency – El-Rufai vs NSA Ribadu Sparks Legal, Security Storm

A dramatic confrontation is unfolding within Nigeria’s political establishment after former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai publicly claimed that he and associates had access to tapped phone conversations involving the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

The statement, made during a televised interview, triggered swift reaction from presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, who called for a thorough investigation and warned that no individual is above the law.

According to Angle 360 findings, the controversy goes far beyond political theatrics. It touches on the legality of surveillance operations, the integrity of Nigeria’s intelligence architecture, and the possibility of parallel interception networks operating outside lawful oversight.

The Core Allegation and Its Legal Weight
El-Rufai asserted that he became aware of directives allegedly issued against him after an associate intercepted communications linked to the NSA. When pressed about the legality of such action, he acknowledged that tapping phones without authorisation is technically unlawful. He then alleged that government agencies frequently engage in similar practices without judicial approval.

This admission introduces a critical legal dilemma. Under Nigerian law, interception of private communications requires strict authorisation under national security and telecommunications regulations. Unauthorised surveillance constitutes a criminal offence. If El-Rufai’s statement is factual, it implies the existence of a non state interception capability. If exaggerated, it raises concerns about reckless public declarations capable of undermining institutional credibility.

Either scenario demands scrutiny.

Presidency’s Response and Political Undertones
Onanuga’s response was immediate and firm. He characterised the claim as a confession of illegal wiretapping and urged security agencies to investigate whether the former governor possesses unlawful surveillance infrastructure. His remarks signal that the presidency views the allegation not merely as political rhetoric but as a potential national security breach.

Angle 360 analysis suggests the episode reflects deeper fractures within political power structures. Public disputes between senior political actors often mask broader realignments and struggles over influence. The escalation of accusations into the realm of intelligence operations is particularly sensitive because it risks exposing vulnerabilities in the state’s security framework.

Surveillance Claims and National Security Implications
If senior political figures can access or claim access to intercepted conversations of a sitting National Security Adviser, it suggests one of three troubling possibilities.

First, that unofficial interception capabilities exist outside lawful command structures.
Second, that sensitive intelligence operations are being politicised.
Third, that allegations are being deployed strategically to destabilise opponents.

Each possibility carries consequences. Parallel surveillance systems would represent a severe breach of state monopoly over intelligence gathering. Politicised intelligence would weaken public trust in security institutions. Fabricated claims would damage democratic accountability and public discourse.

Nigeria’s intelligence agencies operate under legal frameworks designed to balance national security with civil liberties. The present controversy tests whether those safeguards are functioning effectively.

The ICPC and DSS Dimension
El-Rufai further alleged that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has increasingly become aligned with the NSA’s influence and that the Department of State Services was involved in actions targeting him. He contrasted this with what he described as professionalism by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, stating he would honour its invitation.

These remarks extend the dispute beyond a single wiretap claim into allegations of institutional misuse. Angle 360 notes that public accusations involving anti corruption agencies and intelligence bodies require measured verification. Without evidence, such claims risk eroding institutional credibility. With evidence, they demand urgent accountability.

The Dadiyata Question Resurfaces
During the interview, El-Rufai also addressed the disappearance of social commentator Abubakar Idris, known as Dadiyata, who was abducted in 2019 and has not been located. He denied involvement and suggested that the activist was primarily critical of political actors outside Kaduna State.

The resurfacing of this unresolved case underscores the broader trust deficit between political elites and segments of the public. Unresolved high profile disappearances amplify scepticism whenever allegations of surveillance or state overreach emerge.

The Larger Governance Question
Angle 360 assessment indicates that this controversy cannot be dismissed as routine political sparring. It raises foundational governance questions. Who authorises surveillance in Nigeria. What oversight mechanisms prevent abuse. How transparent are accountability structures when powerful actors clash.

Unchecked allegations can destabilise institutions. Uninvestigated confessions can erode rule of law. Silence from oversight bodies can deepen suspicion.

The presidency’s call for investigation therefore becomes a necessary first step. However, the credibility of any probe will depend on independence, transparency, and adherence to constitutional procedure.

Nigeria’s democracy depends not only on elections but on institutional discipline. Surveillance powers are among the most sensitive tools of state authority. They must never become instruments of personal rivalry or political leverage.

Until clarity emerges, the wiretap controversy remains both a legal puzzle and a political signal.

SOURCE: https://angle360ng.com/explosive-wiretap-claim-rocks-presidency-el-rufai-vs-nsa-ribadu/

El - rufai knows how to press neck and also be controversial

El rufai goofed there.

He is not that intelligent. This will sink him politically.

How can a sane person come out publicly to admit this. He is no more in government.

This one go long oo. ADC Don get big problem

Ok... They should fight dirty. After all, we aren't benefiting from them.

I heard them saying tinubu is the most powerful president in africa. Can he just prove that by sending security agencies to arrest elrufai or will he chicken out as usual

Fight on enemies of the land

I will assume this is an elaborate plot to justify the removal of the compulsory live transmission of election results from the electoral bill.

That's the only way I can make sense of this.

No sane person will go to live TV to say they tapped the phone of the NSA of a nation.

Let's even assume El-Rufai did, the right way to go is to claim he has insider sources in the NSA who fed him Intel.

He's the first to alert the public that he's going to be arrested.

He resisted arrest at the airport. You really think that if the security agencies wanted to arrest him, they will wait for him at the lobby where his supporters already jammed? If they really wanted to arrest, they would have picked him with heavy security personnels to deter his supposed followers; that's if they chose not to pick him directly inside his plane immediately he landed.

Then he came to national TV to say this, when some quarters in the country are presently debating that INEC servers can be hacked, to justify the non-compulsory transmission clause.

As an opposition, what good does the "revelation" about hacking the NSA offer El-Rufai himself and the ADC?

If the Senate and the presidency come out tomorrow to say the opposition is planning to hack the INEC servers during the election, how will the opposition deny it given the present situation?

People in the opposition should be weary of El-Rufai. I support Tinubu, but I can't shake the feeling that something is off about Mallam. Those who said El-Rufai's fallout with Tinubu was planned are starting to make sense.

WHY IS THIS HAPPENING IMMEDIATELY THE OPPOSITION STARTED RESISTING AND PROTESTING THE ELECTORAL BILL? Food for thought.

He even said Ribadu tapped his own phone too to justify tapping the NSA. Lmaoooo. He doesn't have hard proof of this but hearsay, while confessing to the crime with own mouth. As a well educated and well exposed former minister and governor, does that make sense?

The electoral bill angle aside, what happens when/if tomorrow Uba Sani or his oppositions in KD say that El-Rufai is one of those feeding intel to terrorists and bandits? After all, the opposition already nicknamed him Isakaba.

That's what reckless statement can cause

Rufia is on hot seat, let wait till Monday

El Rufai with his unguarded statement might have actually given the government enough reason to drag him in and out of court till the next election.


We learn every day

hotwax:
El rufai goofed there.

He is not that intelligent. This will sink him politically.

How can a sane person come out publicly to admit this. He is no more in government.

This one go long oo. ADC Don get big problem

If he is not that intelligent then why did Tinubu ask for his help to answer questions in London when he was fighting for power, only to grab it and run with it inside Aso Rock to be so clueless and incompetent that his expired Buhari now seems like a superstar guy

There is need to tread carefully on this matter. The law must take its course.

hotwax:
El rufai goofed there.

He is not that intelligent. This will sink him politically.

How can a sane person come out publicly to admit this. He is no more in government.

This one go long oo. ADC Don get big problem

he is into the game my brother, this is the only way he can destabilise the ruling APC, this allegations will seems to hold water because almost all government officials and governors are realigning with the government at the centre and it can only be possible if the allegations are true allegedly

Femi952000:
Explosive Wiretap Claim Rocks Presidency – El-Rufai vs NSA Ribadu Sparks Legal, Security Storm



SOURCE: https://angle360ng.com/explosive-wiretap-claim-rocks-presidency-el-rufai-vs-nsa-ribadu/

If El-Rufai can have access to Bulaba's call. Trunp will capture him like an agric fowl.

No wonder his wife was singing Trump praises like he hit her gspot!!!

2027 is coming and they will be sent packing from Aso Villa.

davidtemi:
Fight on enemies of the land

What enemy of this land can be greater than the city boy who fraudulently packaged his 2011 expired soldier as APC change messiah four years later

hotwax:
El rufai goofed there.

He is not that intelligent. This will sink him politically.

How can a sane person come out publicly to admit this. He is no more in government.

This one go long oo. ADC Don get big problem

Goof faya ya mouth 4 dia!

Do you know the game more than El-Rufai? Let bulaba try any nonsense and see.

Irrespective, Tinubu is an OTP. He will be massively voted out come 2027; Ramadan or not.

if he is not lying, then he is foolishly compromising a tool for clout

during ww2 the british cracked ENIGMA, germany's supposedly unhackable code system. they did not announce this and they used this sparingly so the germans would not catch on

el rufai is literally announcing that he is loose cannon who cannot be entrusted with strategic information

El Rufai unlawfuly intercepted a phoncall for illegal call for his arrest. It is also unlawful for Ribado to order an arrest by just making a phone call. Furthermore this how El rufai knew about illegal withdrawal of 100 billion monthly by Tunibu.

You dey tap NSA number, still dey shout say make we do e transmission. Na INEC una no fit tap na, dem be James Bond. We're not ready for the truth in Nigeria.

He then alleged that government agencies frequently engage in similar practices without judicial approval
This was how they tapped peter obi's phone conversation during the last elections and started mocking him for calling bishop oyedepo. Tinubu has gotten away with so much impunity that he has been committing. Anyway elrufai helped made him who he is today so they all should know where they hung there clothes before bathing together.

That is very serious offense. El Rufai has no right to tap anybody line very very wrong.

God has exposed them quickly this will a big lesson to all govt official and politician now all of them should go and get a particular app I won't mention that app will never allow anybody access your phone via proxy or whatever I have the app on my phone if you try too tap or enter my phone from anywhere you try it first it block you if you try the 3rd the app with track your phone and lock it and no engineer in this world can reopen it for you be you el rufai be you yahoo I d I o t s be you anything your phone will be dead.

No wonder el rufai kept saying they are going to win coming election so na to dey tap people numbers? Amupitan INEC chairman wake up.

Imagine somebody who want to rule Nigeria tapping phone? I said this man and his crook party are criminals, Nigerians wake up imagine ADC or this man become the president North Korea go ddey play for where these people go dey..

zeyt:
El Rufai unlawfuly intercepted a phoncall for illegal call for his arrest. It is also unlawful for Ribado to order an arrest by just making a phone call. Furthermore this how El rufai knew about illegal withdrawal of 100 billion monthly by Tunibu.

As usual Nigerians are not thinking. Bayo Onanuga knows and that's why he's implanting his usual antics to sway commonsensical thinking.

Chucks13:
That is very serious offense. El Rufai has no right to tap anybody line very very wrong.

Go's has exposed them quickly this will a big lesson to all govt official and politician now all of them should go and get a particular app I won't mention that app will never allow anybody access your phone via proxy or whatever I have the app on my phone if you try too tap or enter my phone from anywhere you try it first it block you if you try the 3rd the app with track your phone and lock it and no engineer in this world can reopen it for you be you el rufai be you yahoo I d I o t s be you anything your phone will be dead.

No wonder el rufai kept saying they are going to win coming lction so a to dey tap people numbers? Amupitn INEC chairman wake up.

Imagine somebody who want rule Nigeria tapping phone? I said this man and his crook party are criminal, Nigerians wake up imagine ADC or this man become the president North Korea go ddey play for where these people go dey..

You can't mention the app because it only exists in your head

Elrufai's salvo has hit its target just as he intended. The ball is now in Tinubu and Ribadu's court. This is high stakes chess, not checkers.

Totallu bluff . northeners know nothing about signal intelligence or wire tapping. They should come to the south south and see wire tapping in effect. Rotimi amaechi started it with purchasing pegasus malware and rest south south governors followed suit.

Incognito403:
Goof faya ya mouth 4 dia!

Do you know the game more than El-Rufai? Let bulaba try any nonsense and see.

Irrespective, Tinubu is an OTP. He will be massively voted out come 2027; Ramadan or not.

I do not support any political party. I'm a neutral. No need for insult.

I just reacted based on the gravity of El rufai claim.

No need for insult. Peace

People tapping NSA phone are probably security agents spying for El rufai and Boko Haram. This national security issues and loopholes

hotwax:
El rufai goofed there.

He is not that intelligent. This will sink him politically.

How can a sane person come out publicly to admit this. He is no more in government.

This one go long oo. ADC Don get big problem

Who told you he goofed? I don’t believe it was a mistake. He did what he did intentionally—either to throw the presidency into confusion or to distract them from whatever case he has with law enforcement agencies.
His actions appear deliberate, possibly to creat confusion within the presidency

Them tap the phone of the whole NSA.
And we wonder why we are not winning the war against terror.
Same way they drop a whole General and Nigerian moved on.

hotwax:
El rufai goofed there.

He is not that intelligent. This will sink him politically.

How can a sane person come out publicly to admit this. He is no more in government.

This one go long oo. ADC Don get big problem

Who told you he goofed? I don’t believe it was a mistake. He did what he did intentionally—either to throw the presidency into confusion or to distract them from whatever case he has with law enforcement agencies.
His actions appear deliberate, possibly to creat confusion within the presidency .

anonimi:
What enemy of this land can be greater than the city boy who fraudulently packaged his 2011 expired soldier as APC change messiah four years later

All of them are still enemies of the land

El-Rufai go change mouth and beg Na Na, else I are is in serious trouble. This NSA no be am at all, from office car stolen at the national mosque, to tapping Ur phone that guy Na falling hand to that office.