**SERAP Takes Govt to Court Over Mass Phone-Tapping Rules** The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Nigerian government, led by President Bola Tinubu, over the government's failure to withdraw a controversial law that allows mass phone tapping. The law, known as the 'Lawful Interception of Communications Regulations, 2019', has been criticized for violating Nigerians' right to privacy and freedom of expression. The lawsuit follows a recent revelation by a former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, who claimed that the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, had his phone conversation intercepted. El-Rufai alleged that the NSA's call was tapped, and he overheard him discussing a plan to arrest him. SERAP has filed a suit at the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice in Abuja, seeking several declarations and orders from the court. The organization wants the court to declare that the government's failure to withdraw the mass phone-tapping rules is unlawful and a breach of Nigeria's international human rights obligations. SERAP is also seeking an order directing the government to withdraw the regulations and to commence a new legislative process to ensure that any future interception regulations align with Nigeria's international human rights obligations. The organization argues that the mass phone-tapping regime established by the regulations is a violation of Nigerians' constitutional and international human rights, including the right to privacy and freedom of expression. SERAP also warns that the concentration of power to intercept communications in political authorities without independent supervision poses a significant risk of arbitrariness. This lawsuit highlights the need for the Nigerian government to strike a balance between national security and individual rights. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, it is essential that the government prioritizes transparency and accountability in its actions.