Lawyer Declares Phone Tapping Criminal in El-Rufai Case

Babatunde Ogala, a lawyer, emphasized that tapping someone's phone is a criminal offense punishable by law, referencing the Cybercrime Act and the Data Protection Act. His comments were made during an interview on Arise Television, discussing allegations against former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who is accused of tapping the phone of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.

El-Rufai has admitted to listening to telephone conversations, which has sparked criticism from various sectors, including the presidency. Ogala noted that the prosecution must prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt, highlighting that charges have been filed against El-Rufai under the Cybercrime Act and the Nigerian Communications Act.

He expressed skepticism about the evidence presented by the prosecution, stating that it must be sufficient to justify the charges. Ogala concluded that if the allegations are true, it would be a serious offense, particularly if a National Security Adviser is involved in such actions against a regular citizen.