Abuja, Nigeria – February 14, 2026 — The administration of President Bola Tinubu has confirmed it will launch a full investigation into claims made by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai that he had access to intercepted telephone conversations of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
The decision was announced by Presidential Spokesperson Bayo Onanuga in a strongly worded post on X late Friday, following El-Rufai’s appearance on Arise TV where he recounted an alleged attempt by DSS operatives to detain him at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, upon his return from Cairo, Egypt.
In the interview, El-Rufai stated that he was aware of a call made by Ribadu ordering his custody because “someone tapped his phone and told me.” When challenged by the presenter on the illegality of phone-tapping, the former governor reportedly replied: “I know, but the government does it all the time, they listen to our calls all the time without court order. But someone tapped his phone and told us that he gave the order.”
Onanuga described the remarks as a direct confession to involvement in or benefit from wire-tapping of Nigeria’s National Security Adviser. In his post, he 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.”
The spokesperson’s call for investigation has since been endorsed at the highest levels of government, with sources confirming that relevant security and law enforcement agencies have been directed to probe the matter immediately. The investigation is expected to examine:
Whether any unauthorised interception of communications involving the NSA occurred
The source and legitimacy of the information allegedly relayed to El-Rufai
Potential violations of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 and other relevant statutes
Broader claims of widespread illegal surveillance by government actors
El-Rufai’s son, Bashir El-Rufai, has since defended his father on X, clarifying that the former governor never claimed to have personally tapped anyone’s phone. He wrote: “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 controversy follows the widely reported incident at Abuja airport on Thursday, where DSS operatives allegedly attempted to detain El-Rufai. The former governor was eventually allowed to leave after interventions, prompting solidarity visits from prominent politicians including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi.
Nasir El-Rufai, who governed Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023 and remains a major political figure in northern Nigeria, has been a frequent critic of certain policies of the Tinubu administration. His remarks on Arise TV have intensified an already tense political atmosphere ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Neither the Department of State Services (DSS) nor the Office of the National Security Adviser has issued a formal statement on the specific allegations at the time of this report. However, security sources indicate that any confirmed unauthorised interception of communications—especially involving a serving National Security Adviser—would constitute a grave national security breach.
Legal experts note that under Nigerian law, interception of communications without a valid court order is a serious criminal offence punishable by imprisonment. The Cybercrimes Act 2015 and the Evidence Act provide clear frameworks for lawful interception, typically limited to national security threats and requiring judicial authorisation.
The presidency’s swift response signals that the administration views the matter as both a potential criminal act and a serious reputational challenge. Observers expect the probe to be thorough, with possible involvement of the Office of the Attorney-General, the National Intelligence Agency, and other relevant bodies.
As the investigation begins, the incident has reignited broader national debate on privacy rights, surveillance practices by state actors, political vendettas, and the weaponisation of security agencies in Nigeria’s increasingly polarised political environment.
Further updates are expected as agencies commence their inquiries and as El-Rufai or his representatives respond to the formal call for investigation.
