The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, has confirmed that former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai tapped his telephone line, according to testimony by the Department of State Services before the Federal High Court in Abuja. The DSS told the court that Ribadu made the confirmation during the agency’s investigation into the alleged phone-tapping incident.
During proceedings, DSS representatives reportedly informed the court that their findings indicated Ribadu’s communications were intercepted without authorisation, and that the NSA personally confirmed this to investigators. They said this formed a key part of the evidence gathered in the course of probing the complaint brought before the security agency.
The case, which has drawn significant public interest, centres on allegations that El-Rufai unlawfully monitored Ribadu’s phone conversations while the NSA was in office. The DSS explanation in court is expected to shape the direction of the trial, as the judge considers the weight of the security agency’s investigation and the NSA’s confirmation as presented in open court.
Legal and political observers say the development raises fresh concerns about surveillance, privacy, and the misuse of security resources for political or personal purposes. They note that the court’s eventual decision could set an important precedent on how allegations of illegal wiretapping and abuse of security platforms are handled in Nigeria.
