Phone Tapping: Surveillance Regulations Could be Used against Civilians, Govt Critics, Says SERAP

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, says surveillance regulations could be used against civilians and those critical of the government.

Deputy Director of SERAP, Kolawole Oluwadare, made this statement on Monday while fielding questions in an interview on Arise Television.

His remark comes after allegations by the former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai that the National Security Adviser, NSA, Nuhu Ribadu’s phone conversation was intercepted.

Recall that El-Rufai reportedly claimed that he and another person tapped the phone call of the NSA.

Airing his own opinion, Oluwadare said, “With the kind of weight and power this kind of regulation has, it should go through the legislative process and public hearing. These regulations will take away major rights Nigerians have.

“The current regulations governing interception may not be necessary in their present form. Concerns exist regarding the wording of these laws, the provisions for civil liberties safeguards, and the potential for misuse.

“It is unclear how agencies like the DSS or the Office of the National Security Adviser utilize these powers, raising concerns that they might be used against civilians or government critics.

“Regulations of this magnitude, which could impact fundamental rights, should undergo a thorough legislative process, including public hearings, to incorporate necessary safeguards and ensure their effectiveness in addressing insecurity.

“This stance does not advocate against an interception framework altogether, but rather suggests it should align with models found in other jurisdictions, incorporating robust safeguards as envisioned in existing legal frameworks.”