Those claiming that El-Rufai never said he tapped the NSA’s phone either didn’t watch the interview or are deliberately spreading a falsehood.
In the interview, he clearly said, “We listen to their calls” - which is the definition of wiretapping. He later said someone tapped the phone and informed him. At no point did he indicate that his first statement was a mistake.
Even if he or his supporters argue that the initial statement was a slip, failing to report someone who is tapping another person’s calls and benefiting from the crime is itself a crime under the Cybercrimes Act.
I have no personal issue with El-Rufai, nor am I a supporter of Ribadu; I have never met either of them or spoken to them by phone. But I cannot stand a politician going on national TV and admitting to committing a crime - and then going scot-free just because he is in the opposition.
There is no middle ground: El-Rufai is either lying or he is a criminal.