President Bola Tinubu’s government has confirmed it will probe a claim by a former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, of tapping the phone of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, who made the call on Friday, shortly after Mr El-Rufai’s interview on Arise TV, claiming he had access to Mr Ribadu’s phone conversations, also called for his punishment over the declaration.
Mr Onanuga in a post on X said, “El-Rufai confesses to wire-tapping Nigeria’s NSA on TV. Does it mean that he and his collaborators have wire-tapping facilities?.
“This should be thoroughly investigated and punishment meted out. El-Rufai is not too big to face the wrath of the law.”
Mr El-Rufai had claimed that he and some others listen to the telephone conversations of Mr Ribadu, after an individual tapped the NSA’s phone.
“Nuhu made the call and made the order that I must be in custody yesterday. (I know) he made the call because we listen to their calls; the government thinks they’re the only ones that listen to calls, but we also have our ways. He made the call; he gave the order. Someone tapped his phone and told me,” Mr El-Rufai said, while recounting his experience with operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) at Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja.
When told by the presenter that tapping the NSA’s phone was illegal, Mr El-Rufai responded, “I know, but the government does it all the time, they listen to our calls all the time without court order. But someone tapped his phone and told us that he gave the order.”
