Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, is under intense scrutiny following his claim that Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, had his phone bugged—an allegation that has prompted calls for a thorough investigation.
Political aides, legal experts, and security analysts have described El-Rufai’s revelation on national television as alarming, warning that if true, it represents a serious breach of national security that may warrant prosecution. Former Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, is among those supporting a probe.
El-Rufai made the claim during an Arise TV interview on Friday, stating that he became aware of an alleged plan to arrest him upon his return to Nigeria on Thursday through a leaked conversation supposedly obtained from the NSA’s phone.
The disclosure has unsettled political and security circles, with experts cautioning that any unauthorized interception of NSA communications constitutes a grave violation of national security protocols and could exacerbate political tensions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In response, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, and the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, publicly challenged El-Rufai’s account. Onanuga remarked: “El-Rufai has confessed on television to wire-tapping Nigeria’s NSA. Does this mean he and his collaborators possess wire-tapping facilities? This matter should be thoroughly investigated, and appropriate sanctions applied. El-Rufai is not above the law.”
Meanwhile, Abdullahi Ganduje has firmly rejected El-Rufai’s suggestion linking him to the disappearance of activist Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata. In a statement signed by former Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Muhammad Garba, Ganduje described the allegation as baseless, reckless, and an attempt to shift responsibility for an incident that occurred entirely within Kaduna State.
The statement emphasized that Dadiyata lived and operated in Kaduna, directing his criticisms at the Kaduna State government, with no credible record showing focus on Kano State or Ganduje. “Everyone in Kaduna knew the nature of the criticism he made and who it was directed at,” Garba said, noting that security in Kaduna at the time was the responsibility of the state government and federal security agencies.
The statement urged careful scrutiny of El-Rufai’s claims, stressing that serious allegations must be backed by verifiable evidence. Dragging Ganduje into the matter without proof, Garba noted, politicizes a sensitive episode and risks further public confusion over an already delicate situation.
