Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has admitted that he and his associates monitored the telephone conversations of Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, describing the action as technically unlawful while defending it as politically motivated.
Speaking during a televised interview on Arise Television, El-Rufai disclosed that conversations involving the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, were tracked.
According to him, the intercepted communications allegedly revealed directives aimed at targeting him.
He acknowledged that intercepting official communications without authorisation would contravene established legal procedures.
Nevertheless, he argued that the alleged actions taken against him warranted scrutiny and justified his decision to expose what he described as internal political manoeuvring.
Furthermore, El-Rufai suggested that the development reflects deepening fissures within the ruling political establishment.
He maintained that the revelations were not intended to inflame tensions, but rather to shed light on what he characterised as coordinated efforts against him.
However, the admission has generated significant controversy.
Presidency officials and political observers have expressed concern over the implications of monitoring the communications of a top national security official.
Some commentators have called for an investigation into the claim, citing potential breaches of national security protocols and privacy laws.
Meanwhile, legal experts note that under Nigerian law, the interception of private or official communications without proper judicial authorisation constitutes a serious offence.
Hence, El-Rufai’s remarks have intensified debate over the boundaries between political rivalry and national security.
As reactions continue to mount, the episode underscores escalating tensions within Nigeria’s political landscape, raising broader questions about surveillance, accountability, and the use of state power in partisan disputes.