Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on information and strategy, has demanded a full-scale investigation into Nasir el-Rufai’s public admission that he accessed an intercepted phone conversation involving Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser (NSA), describing the disclosure as a serious breach that raises major legal and security concerns.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a post shared on X on Saturday, Onanuga said el-Rufai’s statement amounted to a direct confession and questioned whether the former Kaduna Governor and his unnamed collaborators possess wire-tapping capabilities. He stressed that such an act, if proven, constitutes a grave violation of the law and must be treated with the seriousness it deserves.
“El-Rufai confesses to wire-tapping Nigeria’s NSA on TV. Does it mean that he and his collaborators have wire-tapping facilities?” Onanuga asked.
“This should be thoroughly investigated and punishment meted out. El-Rufai is not too big to face the wrath of the law.”
The call followed comments made by el-Rufai during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme, where he claimed that Ribadu’s phone was tapped, enabling him to listen to a private conversation in which the NSA allegedly directed security agencies to arrest him.
The former Governor acknowledged that the act was illegal but argued that similar practices are routinely carried out by government agencies, often without court approval. According to him, access to intercepted calls is not exclusive to state authorities.
“The government thinks they are the only ones that listen to calls but we also have our ways,” el-Rufai said.
The revelation has triggered widespread public reactions, with security experts and civil society organisations warning that unlawful surveillance undermines privacy rights, national security protocols, and the rule of law.
Several stakeholders have urged security agencies and regulatory bodies to urgently investigate the claim, identify those responsible, and ensure accountability in line with existing legal frameworks.
