Phone tapping scandal: Omokri demands Probe into El-Rufai

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Former presidential aide and social media commentator Reno Omokri has called for a thorough investigation into ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai following the former governor’s claim that he learnt of an alleged plan to arrest him through an intercepted phone call involving Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.

In a post shared on Friday, Omokri argued that unlawful interception of telephone conversations is a serious offence, insisting that admitting it publicly is “callous”.

“Tapping a phone call without a court order is a crime,” Omokri wrote, while questioning “who else” may have been surveilled.

El-Rufai, speaking on Arise Television, alleged that Ribadu ordered his arrest and claimed he heard the NSA giving instructions after the NSA’s call was tapped.

“The NSA’s call was tapped and we heard him saying they should arrest me,” he said.

The allegation followed a tense incident at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, where El-Rufai said security operatives attempted to detain him without presenting a warrant or formal invitation.

A presidential aide, Temitope Ajayi, also weighed in, saying El-Rufai “admitted on national television” that someone tapped the NSA’s phone for him to listen, describing the act as illegal.

Under Nigeria’s legal framework, the 1999 Constitution guarantees the privacy of citizens’ telephone conversations, while interception is generally expected to follow procedures provided by law. Nigeria’s Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 and the NCC’s Lawful Interception of Communications Regulations provide structure for lawful interception, typically tied to authorisation and defined processes.

Omokri’s criticism also referenced earlier controversy around El-Rufai’s past remarks on payments made during the Southern Kaduna security crisis, comments that drew public backlash at the time.