Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong has raised concerns over the recent cybercrime charges filed against former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
El-Rufai was charged on Monday at the Federal High Court in Abuja for allegedly tapping the phone of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu. Effiong, in a statement shared on social media, stressed that El-Rufai never admitted to wiretapping Ribadu’s conversation, but only referenced information provided by a third party. He noted that no court can compel an individual to give evidence against themselves.
Effiong also questioned the legal basis of the charges, pointing out that there is no entity called the Department of State Services (DSS) under Nigerian law. According to him, the National Security Agencies Act recognizes the State Security Service (SSS), which does not have prosecutorial powers.
He further questioned whether El-Rufai’s remarks on Arise TV qualify as an “extrajudicial statement,” since confessional statements must be made under caution, which he said was not the case.
Effiong concluded that, despite his personal disagreements with El-Rufai, the charges appear legally problematic and their outcome will depend on judicial scrutiny.
