This is an AI-generated summary and has not been vetted by the Firstpost editorial team
Nigeria: A live television confession by Nasir El-Rufai, the former Governor of Kaduna State and a prominent critic of President Bola Tinubu, has sparked controversy. El-Rufai admitted to hacking the communications of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, claiming he was alerted to a secret arrest order through unauthorised phone tapping. This admission has prompted the Nigerian government to file cybercrime charges against him. Meanwhile, the country’s anti-corruption agency questioned El-Rufai about the alleged misuse of nearly $320 million in state funds during his governorship. These developments arrive as the country prepares for the February 2026 presidential election. With President Tinubu seeking re-election amidst economic instability and pressure from the Trump administration to bolster defence, the legal battle against one of his top critics signals an increasingly volatile race for the presidency.
