ABUJA — In a move that has sent the nation’s security apparatus into a tailspin, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has openly confessed to bugging the telephone of Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
The admission, made during a candid sit-down with DCL Hausa on Friday, February 13, 2026, marks an unprecedented escalation in the “civil war” currently tearing through the heart of the President Bola Tinubu administration’s inner circle.
“I Know It’s Illegal”
El-Rufai, who recently joined the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), was shockingly blunt about the breach. He admitted that while he is aware of the legal implications, he felt justified because the government frequently employs the same tactics against its citizens.
“Yes, we tapped the phone of NSA Nuhu Ribadu,” El-Rufai stated. “I know it’s illegal, but we did it anyway. After all, the government also does it to us. Someone tapped his phone for us, and we have the recordings.”
The former governor claimed that the surveillance was a “defensive measure” to uncover what he describes as “wicked plots” being hatched within the Office of the NSA to dismantle opposition figures and intimidate the judiciary.
The “Spy vs. Spy” Scandal
The confession adds a dark, cinematic layer to the ongoing feud between the two former “best friends.” For decades, El-Rufai and Ribadu were seen as the inseparable reformers of the Nigerian state. Now, they are engaged in a high-stakes game of electronic warfare.
- The Content: While El-Rufai has not yet released the audio, he hinted that the recordings prove Ribadu has been “remote-controlling” the EFCC and ICPC to arrest political rivals without warrants.
- The Justification: El-Rufai argued that in an environment where “dictatorship” is taking root, the only way to protect oneself is to “know what the hunter is planning.”
Legal and Security Implications
Legal experts are already calling this one of the biggest security scandals in Nigeria’s democratic history. Under the Cybercrimes Act and various privacy laws, the unauthorized interception of communication is a serious felony.
“This is a self-incrimination of the highest order,” remarked Abuja-based legal analyst Barrister Chidi Okezie. “By admitting to bugging the phone of the nation’s top security officer, El-Rufai has opened a Pandora’s box that could lead to treasonable felony charges.”
The Silence from the Villa
As of late Friday, the Office of the National Security Adviser has not issued a formal rebuttal. However, sources within the intelligence community describe the mood in the Villa as “livid.”
The breach suggests that the NSA’s personal and official lines may have been compromised for months, raising massive questions about the integrity of Nigeria’s national security architecture.
Monday’s Showdown
The confession comes just 72 hours before El-Rufai is scheduled to appear at the EFCC headquarters at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 16. Many now wonder if El-Rufai plans to “play the tapes” as a leverage tool against his impending interrogation over the alleged ₦423 billion misappropriation in Kaduna.
Whether this is a brave whistleblower move or a desperate act of political survival, the “Bestie era” has officially ended in a web of wiretaps and betrayal.
