By Muhammad Mamman
– A legal practitioner, Ogwuche, has argued that former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, should not be held personally responsible over allegations of phone tapping linked to the tenure of Nuhu Ribadu.
Speaking amid growing public debate over claims of unlawful surveillance, Ogwuche maintained that attributing blame to El-Rufai without concrete evidence would be both legally unsound and politically motivated.
The lawyer stressed that security and intelligence operations in Nigeria are typically carried out by authorised agencies operating within established legal frameworks. He argued that individual political office holders should not be singled out unless there is verifiable proof of direct involvement or authorisation.
Ogwuche further noted that matters relating to national security often involve multiple institutions and layers of approval, cautioning against what he described as “trial by public opinion.”
The controversy follows renewed discussions around alleged surveillance activities and the role of public officials in overseeing security agencies. While critics have demanded greater transparency and accountability, supporters of El-Rufai insist that any claims must be substantiated through lawful investigative processes.
As of the time of filing this report, neither El-Rufai nor Ribadu had issued an official statement directly addressing the latest remarks.
The debate adds to ongoing scrutiny of surveillance practices in Nigeria, with civil society groups calling for clearer safeguards to protect citizens’ privacy while balancing national security concerns.
