El-Rufai Must Face Law Over Wire-tapping Admission — Presidency

The Presidency has said former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, must face the law over what it described as an admission of illegal wire-tapping of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, made this known in a post on his verified X handle, @aonanuga1956.

“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.

The Presidency’s reaction followed comments made by El-Rufai during an interview on Arise News with anchor Charles Aniagolu, where the former governor alleged that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had “procured” the Department of State Services (DSS) to “abduct” him at Abuja Airport a day before.

In the interview, El-Rufai claimed that the ICPC had become “a personal tool” of the NSA and insisted that Ribadu “made the call and ordered” that he must be arrested.

When asked how he knew Ribadu made such a call, El-Rufai replied: “He made the call, because we listen to their calls. The government thinks that they’re the only ones that listen to calls, but we also have our ways. He made the call, he gave the order.”

Pressed further — “So you tapped his phone calls…?” — El-Rufai answered: “Someone tapped his phone.”

When reminded that wire-tapping was technically illegal, El-Rufai said: “I know, but the government does it all the time… they tap our calls all the time without a court order.”

Onanuga said the comments warranted thorough investigation and possible punishment under the law.