CSOs demand El-Rufai’s arrest over alleged NSA phone tapping

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

A coalition of civil society and public interest organisations has called for the immediate arrest, investigation and prosecution of former Kaduna State Governor and former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasir El-Rufai, over what it described as a self-confessed act of illegal phone tapping amounting to cybercrime and subversion of national security.

The coalition, operating under the aegis of the Campaign for Sustainable Democracy and Rights (CSDR), made the demand in a statement issued on Saturday, 15 February 2026, and signed by its convener and co-convener, Nelson Ekujumi and Shola Omolola.

According to the group, it was reacting to what it termed El-Rufai’s “self-confession” during a national television programme that he and others listened illegally to the phone conversations of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

The coalition expressed “shock, anger, pain and trauma” over the alleged admission, stating that the act, if established, constituted a breach of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act 2015 and a direct subversion of national security.

“We are shocked and traumatized by the self confession on national TV programme of Mr El-Rufai to this act of criminality and subversion of national security,” the statement read.

Citing constitutional and statutory provisions, the coalition argued that the tapping of telephone conversations in Nigeria is strictly regulated by law.

It referenced Section 37 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which guarantees the privacy of citizens, including their correspondence and telephone communications.

While acknowledging that Section 45 of the same constitution permits restrictions on privacy rights where “reasonably justifiable in a democratic society” for purposes such as defence and public safety, the coalition maintained that such powers are exercised only under clearly defined legal procedures.

The group further pointed to the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, which requires authorised agencies, including the Office of the National Security Adviser, the State Security Service and the Nigeria Police Force, to obtain a warrant from a Federal High Court judge before intercepting communications, except in limited emergency situations where a warrant must still be sought within 48 hours.

Under Section 39 of the Cybercrimes Act, the coalition noted, law enforcement agencies may compel service providers to intercept communications only where there are reasonable grounds to suspect criminal activity.

It stressed that unauthorised interception of electronic communications constitutes a criminal offence punishable by fines and/or imprisonment.

“Where in the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as amended did Mr Nasir El-Rufai derive the powers to commit cybercrime and subvert national security?” the coalition queried, insisting that he must be arrested to “name, investigated and prosecuted according to law.”

The CSDR also argued that a thorough investigation could help address what it described as “a gaping hole in our security architecture,” alleging that unauthorised interception and possible leakage of sensitive security information could exacerbate terrorism and banditry across the country.

As of the time of filing this report, El-Rufai had not publicly responded to the coalition’s demand for his arrest, and no official statement had been issued by security agencies regarding the allegations.

The coalition, however, maintained that upholding constitutional safeguards and enforcing cybercrime laws without fear or favour remains critical to protecting Nigeria’s democratic institutions and national security.