A former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has called on the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate and prosecute former Kaduna State governor Nasir el‑Rufa’i over alleged involvement in phone hacking and related security breaches.
In a public statement, Omokri argued that individuals who knowingly receive or use illegally obtained information should be treated as accessories to a crime, even if they did not carry out the hacking themselves. He alleged that el-Rufa’i accepted and published information obtained through an illegal wiretap targeting the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Omokri maintained that the DSS, established following the assassination of Murtala Muhammed and charged with protecting national security and the presidency, has a constitutional duty to arraign the former governor in court and investigate whether similar actions were carried out against other individuals or institutions.
He also referenced a past interview in which el-Rufa’i reportedly admitted paying killer herdsmen, suggesting authorities should probe whether sensitive information may have been shared with criminal groups or coup plotters.
The commentator further urged investigators to examine possible attempts to compromise the Independent National Electoral Commission ahead of the 2027 elections and cited accusations by the Kaduna State House of Assembly alleging financial misappropriation during el-Rufa’i’s tenure as governor.
Omokri warned that failure to act could undermine national security and Nigeria’s international image, adding that the DSS must “fulfil its constitutional mandate” by charging the former governor to court.
As of the time of filing this report, el-Rufa’i has not publicly responded to the allegations.
