SERAP Challenges Nigeria's Mass Phone-Tapping Regulations

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has initiated legal action against the Nigerian government at the ECOWAS Court, contesting the controversial mass phone-tapping regulations established in 2019. SERAP's deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, stated that the government's refusal to withdraw these rules breaches Nigeria's international human rights obligations.

The lawsuit, filed on March 8, 2023, follows claims that former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai's phone conversations were intercepted for national security purposes. SERAP seeks a court ruling that the government's stance endorses unlawful surveillance and demands the immediate withdrawal of the regulations.

The organization argues that the current framework undermines constitutional protections and fails to meet international human rights standards, citing concerns about arbitrary surveillance and lack of oversight. The suit highlights the need for clear laws to protect privacy rights and prevent abuse by state agencies and private actors.