Abuja, Nigeria – February 14, 2026 — Bashir El-Rufai, son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has strongly defended his father against accusations of phone-tapping, clarifying that the ex-governor never personally tapped anyone’s phone and was only relaying information allegedly shared with him by a third party.
In a post shared on his official X account on Friday, Bashir stated:
“He did not say HE tapped anybody’s phone. He alleged someone else did & unsolicitedly shared the information to him. No dey try help dem put my Papa for prison abeg.”
The clarification comes amid escalating controversy following Nasir El-Rufai’s recent interview on Arise TV, where he claimed that National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu had ordered his detention and that he (El-Rufai) was aware of the call because “someone tapped his phone and told us.” When challenged by the interviewer that tapping the NSA’s phone was illegal, El-Rufai reportedly responded: “I know, but the government does it all the time, they listen to our calls all the time without court order.”
The statement triggered swift backlash, with Presidential Spokesperson Bayo Onanuga describing it as a confession to wire-tapping Nigeria’s National Security Adviser. In a post on X, Onanuga wrote:
“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.”
Bashir El-Rufai’s intervention seeks to reframe his father’s remarks, insisting that Nasir El-Rufai did not claim personal responsibility for intercepting communications but was merely reporting what an unnamed third party had voluntarily disclosed to him.
The development follows the recent attempted arrest of Nasir El-Rufai at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja upon his return from Cairo, Egypt—an incident that drew condemnation from political figures including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, who both paid solidarity visits to the former governor.
El-Rufai, who governed Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023 and remains one of the most influential voices in northern Nigerian politics, has been a vocal critic of aspects of the current administration. His airport incident and subsequent TV comments have intensified political tensions and renewed debate over surveillance, privacy rights, and the use of state security apparatus in political disputes.
Neither the Department of State Services (DSS) nor the Office of the National Security Adviser has issued an official response to Bashir El-Rufai’s clarification or to the broader allegations at the time of this report. The Presidency, through Bayo Onanuga, has maintained that any confirmed illegal interception of communications—particularly involving national security officials—must be investigated and those responsible held accountable.
Legal experts note that unauthorised interception of communications is a serious criminal offence under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 and other relevant laws, punishable by imprisonment and fines. However, proving the source and legality of the alleged information shared with El-Rufai would require substantial evidence.
The controversy has dominated social media and national discourse, with supporters of El-Rufai arguing that his comments expose double standards in government surveillance practices, while critics accuse him of recklessly admitting to benefiting from illegal activity.
As the political temperature rises ahead of the 2027 general elections, the phone-tapping allegation and Bashir El-Rufai’s defence are likely to remain a flashpoint in Nigeria’s increasingly polarised political landscape.
