Onanuga calls for probe following El-Rufai’s phone-tapping disclosure

Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, has called for a formal investigation into recent statements made by Nasir El-Rufai.

The demand follows the former Kaduna State Governor’s public admission that he accessed intercepted phone conversations involving the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.

In a pointed statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Onanuga characterized El-Rufai’s remarks as a confession of illegal surveillance.

He raised concerns regarding the source of the intercepted audio, questioning whether the former governor or his associates are operating private wire-tapping infrastructure independent of state security apparatus.
“El-Rufai confesses to wire-tapping Nigeria’s NSA on TV,” Onanuga wrote. “Does it mean that he and his collaborators have wire-tapping facilities?”

The Special Adviser emphasized that the gravity of such a breach warrants immediate scrutiny, asserting that political stature does not grant immunity from the law.

The call for a probe highlights potential risks to national security, as the unauthorized interception of a National Security Adviser's communications represents a significant vulnerability.

While El-Rufai has not yet responded to Onanuga's call for an inquiry, the development has sparked a wider conversation regarding the legality of private surveillance and the protection of high-level government communications.