El-Rufai Alleges Ribadu Ordered His Detention, Claims Phone Was Tapped

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has accused National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu of orchestrating his recent detention through political manipulation rather than lawful process.

Speaking on the incident, El-Rufai claimed that Ribadu personally directed that he be taken into custody, and that state agencies namely the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) were deployed to execute the order. He described the move as part of a recurring pattern of targeting him.

“Nuhu Ribadu made the call and ordered 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 can listen to calls, but we also have our ways,” El-Rufai said.

When asked about the legality of intercepting calls, he acknowledged it was unlawful but argued that the government engages in similar practices. “Someone tapped his phone and told me, and I know it is illegal, but the government also does it all the time.”

He further alleged that “the ICPC procured the DSS to abduct me for them; this is their modus operandi; they are personal tools of Nuhu Ribadu. The government thinks they are the only ones who listen to our calls with court orders, but someone tapped his phone, and I was informed.”