Alleged Wiretapping: El-Rufai not above the Law – Onanuga

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has called for a full investigation into claims by former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai that he listened to an intercepted phone conversation involving the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

Onanuga, writing on his verified X handle, described El-Rufai’s public remarks as a confession and questioned whether the former governor and unnamed associates possess illegal wire-tapping capabilities.

“El-Rufai confesses to wire tapping Nigeria’s NSA on TV. Does it mean that he and his collaborators have wire tapping facilities?” Onanuga wrote.

He insisted that the matter must be thoroughly investigated, stressing that no individual is above the law.

“This should be thoroughly investigated and punishment meted out. El-Rufai is not too big to face the wrath of the law,” he added.

El-Rufai’s Claim

El-Rufai made the allegation during an interview on Arise Television, where he claimed that “someone tapped” Ribadu’s phone, enabling him to listen to a conversation in which the NSA allegedly ordered his arrest.

The former governor said he was nearly detained upon arrival at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport after returning to the country.

According to him, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) approached him at the airport but did not present a formal arrest warrant, letter of invitation or court order.

Although El-Rufai acknowledged that intercepting calls is illegal, he argued that the government routinely engages in similar practices without court authorisation.

“The government thinks they are the only ones that listen to calls but we also have our ways,” he said.

Deepening Political Rift

The latest exchange underscores the widening political rift between El-Rufai and the presidency.

Once regarded as a key ally of President Tinubu ahead of the 2023 general election, El-Rufai’s relationship with the administration became strained after he was nominated for a ministerial position but was later dropped following security clearance concerns raised by the Senate.

Since then, the former governor has emerged as a vocal critic of the federal government’s policies, frequently questioning the direction of governance under Tinubu.

Until now, the presidency had largely maintained a measured response to his criticisms. However, the current controversy touches directly on national security matters, raising the stakes in the escalating war of words.