ONSA Demands Evidence from El-Rufai Over Toxic Chemical Allegation

… Refers Matter to DSS

The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has called on former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to provide concrete evidence to substantiate his allegation that the agency procured a lethal toxic substance.

ONSA directed El-Rufai to forward any proof of his claims to the Department of State Services (DSS) to facilitate a thorough investigation.

El-Rufai had, in a January 30, 2026 letter addressed to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, alleged that ONSA acquired thallium sulphate — a highly toxic, colourless and odourless chemical capable of causing death even in minimal quantities. He further claimed the substance was sourced from a supplier in Poland.

In its official response, ONSA firmly denied the allegation, stating that it neither procured nor initiated any process to obtain the chemical and had no intention of doing so. The office disclosed that the matter had been formally referred to the DSS for comprehensive investigation and urged El-Rufai and any other individuals with relevant information to submit evidence to support the probe.

The reply, dated February 13, 2026, was signed by Brigadier-General O.M. Adesuyi on behalf of the NSA.

Sources revealed that an initial attempt to deliver the letter to El-Rufai’s Abuja residence was unsuccessful after security personnel reportedly declined to receive it, citing the absence of their head of security. The correspondence was eventually delivered on Sunday and acknowledged on his behalf.

Meanwhile, El-Rufai also alleged that he had listened to an intercepted phone conversation purportedly involving Ribadu. Speaking during a programme on Arise Television, he claimed that “someone tapped” the NSA’s phone and that the recording suggested plans to arrest him.