Former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, is currently at the center of multiple significant legal and ethical controversies, drawing intense scrutiny from anti-graft and security agencies, as well as the federal government. A primary focus of these challenges stems from his alleged admission to tapping the phone of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, an act that has sparked widespread debate and criticism. Legal experts, such as Senior Advocate of Nigeria Babatunde Ogala, have underscored the gravity of El-Rufai's purported confession, warning that a failure to hold him accountable could set a dangerous precedent, potentially emboldening others to commit severe offenses against public officials or even the President.

Ogala, an experienced lawyer, emphasized that such actions transcend the Cybercrime Act and could also breach provisions of the Data Protection Act. He stressed that unlawfully intercepting communications is a serious crime, regardless of whether the target is a high-ranking official like the NSA or an ordinary citizen, though the former amplifies the offense due to national security implications. He likened El-Rufai’s public admission to someone openly confessing to murder, questioning how such a statement could be dismissed as mere political rhetoric without immediate legal repercussions. Charges have reportedly been filed against El-Rufai related to cybercrimes and the Nigerian Communications Act, indicating the formal legal process has commenced.

However, not all voices align on the phone tapping accusation. Rotimi Amaechi, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), publicly expressed doubts about El-Rufai's capacity to hack or tap the NSA's phone. Amaechi controversially suggested that it is the NSA's office itself that typically monitors calls, and he further accused Nuhu Ribadu of being preoccupied with political machinations, including “planning double elections” for 2031 and for President Tinubu in 2027, and allegedly setting up “fake ADC” parties. This perspective introduces a political dimension to the controversy, contrasting sharply with the legal and ethical concerns raised by Ogala.

Beyond the phone tapping controversy, El-Rufai is concurrently facing an array of investigations. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is conducting two distinct probes. One investigation centers on alleged terrorism financing, while the other delves into claims of financial impropriety during his eight-year tenure as Kaduna State Governor from 2015 to 2023. These EFCC investigations follow an indictment by the Kaduna State House of Assembly, which accused El-Rufai and his aides of siphoning over N4 billion in state funds, alleging misuse of loans and procedural irregularities. El-Rufai’s media aide confirmed his cooperation with EFCC investigators, describing their interaction as “frank and fruitful.”

The Department of State Services (DSS) has also engaged, seizing El-Rufai's passport to prevent him from leaving the country, as they reportedly broaden an investigation into the 2019 disappearance of Abubakar Idris, widely known as Dadiyata. Idris, a critic of the El-Rufai administration, was abducted from his Kaduna home. El-Rufai had previously referenced a police officer's alleged confession about Dadiyata's abduction, attempting to distance his administration from the incident. Furthermore, the federal government has officially filed a three-count charge against the former governor under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, specifically alleging unlawful interception of communications and compromising public safety, directly referencing his alleged admissions on ARISE TV.

Amidst these legal and security challenges, El-Rufai has also faced accusations of hypocrisy. Music executive Audu Maikori publicly called out El-Rufai for complaining about security agents attempting to arrest him at Abuja airport without a warrant, contrasting it with El-Rufai’s own actions as governor. Maikori recounted his personal ordeal in 2017, where he was allegedly “abducted” and persecuted by security agents on El-Rufai's orders after making a false tweet about killings in Southern Kaduna, despite issuing a retraction and apology. Maikori highlighted how El-Rufai allegedly overstepped his authority, interfered with police investigations, and used the state apparatus for “persecution” rather than “prosecution.” This sentiment, “He who comes to equity must come with clean hands,” underscores the irony of El-Rufai now decrying treatment similar to what he is accused of inflicting on others.