Alleged wiretapping: El-Rufai must be prosecuted, says North’s group
The Northern Youth Alliance for Security (NYAS) has called for the prosecution of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai following the alleged retrieval of wiretapping equipment from his Abuja home
- Ex-governor’s family faults ICPC’s claim
The Northern Youth Alliance for Security (NYAS) has called for the prosecution of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai following the alleged retrieval of wiretapping equipment from his Abuja home by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
In a statement by its Convener, Saminu Dantala, the group also referenced alleged financial infractions, including the disappearance of €1.4 million, 180 payments totaling N2.16 billion linked to Kaduna State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) account, and transfers of N428.1 million to undisclosed accounts.
NYAS said the reports raised concerns about national security, abuse of office, and public trust.
The group urged the judiciary and anti-graft agencies to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation, stressing that no one is above the law.
It also called for strict enforcement of the Cybercrimes Act and stronger accountability mechanisms for public officials.
The alliance alluded to reports that the ICPC obtained a 14-day detention order from a Magistrate’s Court in Bwari, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to hold the former governor pending investigation.
But El-Rufai’s wife, Hadiza Isma, has said no communication-interception equipment was found during the search in her husband’s home.
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“I was there. No such equipment was found,” she said.
Also, in a statement on X, the former governor’s son, Bello Mohammed El-Rufai, described the allegation of “phone tapping equipment” as false.
The family accused the ICPC of conducting the search with a defective warrant and engaging in a media trial.
The family maintained that only personal phones, laptops and storage devices were taken.
It denied the existence of any sophisticated surveillance equipment.
The family said El-Rufai exercised his constitutional right to remain silent and rejected claims of non-cooperation.
It added that its lawyers had been instructed to challenge the search and related actions in court.
