Bashir El-Rufai has dismissed claims that his father personally engaged in phone interception, insisting that the former governor never admitted to carrying out such an act.
Reacting to the controversy in a post seen by Politics Nigeria, Bashir clarified that his father, Nasir El-Rufai, only alleged that information was passed to him by a third party.
“He did not say he tapped anybody’s phone. He alleged someone else did and unsolicitedly shared the information with him,” Bashir wrote, warning critics against what he described as attempts to implicate his father.
Federal Government Orders Investigation
The presidency has, however, taken a firm stance on the matter. The administration of Bola Tinubu confirmed that authorities would examine the claims following remarks made by the former governor during an interview on Arise TV.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said the allegation raised serious national security concerns and warranted a thorough probe.
According to him, the suggestion that a private network could access the communications of the National Security Adviser was too weighty to ignore and, if proven, should attract legal consequences.
Allegation Involving NSA Ribadu
During the interview, El-Rufai claimed he became aware of directives allegedly issued against him after being informed by an individual who had tapped the phone of Nuhu Ribadu.
He suggested that unofficial channels sometimes gather intelligence just as governments do, a remark that has since generated widespread debate about legality, surveillance, and abuse of sensitive security information.
Incident Recounted at Abuja Airport
El-Rufai linked the claim to an encounter with operatives of the State Security Service at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, where he alleged he was briefly detained based on orders he believed originated from the NSA’s office.
When reminded during the interview that phone tapping without authorization is unlawful, the former governor acknowledged the legal implications but argued that surveillance practices were not exclusive to non-state actors.
Growing Political and Legal Debate
The exchange has triggered intense political reactions, with analysts warning that the issue touches on critical questions about privacy rights, intelligence oversight, and the boundaries of power among Nigeria’s political elite.
Legal experts say the outcome of any investigation could clarify whether the comments amount to an admission, a misunderstanding, or a serious breach requiring prosecution.
