El-Rufai claims NSA Ribadu ordered his arrest, cites intercepted call
A former Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has alleged that the national security adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, ordered his arrest, claiming the directive was uncovered through a tapped phone conversation.
Speaking on Arise News Channel on Friday, El-Rufai said associates intercepted communications which he said linked Ribadu to a plan targeting him.
“Ribadu made the call because we listened to their calls. The government thinks that they’re the only ones that listen to calls. But we also have our ways. He made the call. He gave the order that they should arrest me,” he said.
Acknowledging the legal implications of such interceptions, El-Rufai added: “Because that technically is illegal. I know, but the government does it all the time. They listen to our calls all the time without a court order. But someone tapped his phone and told us that he gave the order.”
He further alleged that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had used the Department of State Services (DSS) in the matter, describing the anti-corruption agency as increasingly acting as a “personal tool” of Ribadu.
“Subsequently, we found out that it was the ICPC that procured the DSS … and this is a modus operandi of the ICPC that increasingly has become a personal tool of Nuhu Ribadu. Nuhu made the call and made the order,” he said.
While criticising the ICPC, El-Rufai commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for what he described as professionalism, saying he would honour its invitation.
“But the EFCC, I think, has shown itself to be more professional in this particular instance. And on Monday, by the grace of God, I’ll go and see them,” he said.
During the interview, El-Rufai was also asked about the disappearance of Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata, a social media commentator who was abducted from his Kaduna residence in 2019 and has not been seen since.
The former governor denied any involvement and rejected suggestions that his administration played a role in the activist’s disappearance.
“Dadiyata lives in Kaduna; he was not a critic of Kaduna state. We barely knew he resided in Kaduna until his abduction was reported. He was a critic of the Kano government at the time,” he said, suggesting that questions should be directed at political figures in Kano.
Neither Ribadu nor the ICPC had publicly responded to the allegations at the time of filing this report.