A Nigerian lawyer and security analyst, Bulama Bukarti, has stated that former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, may confront a difficult legal dilemma if prosecuted over allegations that he tapped the telephone lines of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
In a statement shared on his X account on Monday, Bukarti argued that El-Rufai would have only two possible paths if the matter proceeds to trial: either to affirm in court the claims he made during an interview on Arise Television, or to disown them.
According to Bukarti, maintaining the claims in court would amount to admitting to a criminal offence, while denying them could raise questions about the credibility of statements made on national television.
“If this matter goes to trial, El-Rufai would have only two options: he can either maintain in court that what he said on Arise TV regarding wiretapping the NSA is true, which would amount to an effective confession to a crime, or say that he lied on national television. I’m not sure which would be worse for him,” Bukarti wrote.
The controversy follows reports that the Federal Government has filed charges against El-Rufai bordering on alleged cybercrime and violations of the Communications Act. El-Rufai, who is now a member of the African Democratic Congress, has yet to formally respond to the reported charges.
Meanwhile, human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong questioned the role of the Department of State Services (DSS) in the case, arguing that the agency does not possess prosecutorial powers under Nigeria’s Constitution.
The case, if pursued, is expected to test the boundaries of Nigeria’s cybercrime laws and could have significant political implications.
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