NSA’s Office denies alleged Thallium Sulphate procurement, hands matter to DSS

The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has asked former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to submit any evidence he has regarding the alleged procurement of toxic chemical thallium sulphate to the Department of State Services (DSS) for investigation.

El-Rufai had alleged in a petition to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, that about 10 kilograms of thallium sulphate, a highly toxic, colourless, and odourless substance capable of causing death in small amounts, had been sourced from a supplier in Poland.

In a response dated February 13, 2026, signed by Brigadier-General O.M. Adesuyi on behalf of the NSA, ONSA denied involvement in the alleged transaction and confirmed that the matter had been formally handed over to the DSS for a detailed probe. The letter stated: “ONSA has neither procured nor initiated any process for the purchase of such material, and has no intention of doing so.”

The response further noted that El-Rufai and any other persons with relevant information would be contacted by the DSS to provide evidence that could assist in a comprehensive investigation. Sources reported that an initial attempt to deliver the ONSA letter to El-Rufai’s Abuja residence on Friday was unsuccessful, as security personnel reportedly refused to accept it. The document was eventually delivered and received on Sunday.

The development comes amid renewed claims by El-Rufai that he had access to an intercepted phone conversation involving the NSA. Speaking on Arise TV, he alleged that Ribadu’s phone had been tapped, allowing him to hear instructions allegedly directing security operatives to arrest him.