DSS Arrests Operatives Over El-Rufai Escape
The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested several security operatives, including personnel from the police, DSS, immigration, and aviation security, in connection with the former Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai's return to Nigeria from Egypt on 12 February, alleging bribery and obstruction of a lawful arrest.
Reports indicate that the secret police had previously attempted to apprehend the former Kaduna State governor upon his arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, but their efforts were unsuccessful. Subsequently, Mr El-Rufai's international passport was seized from one of his aides, a detail confirmed by his spokesman, Muyiwa Adekeye.
Details of the Botched Arrest and Passport Seizure
Muyiwa Adekeye took to social media platform X, stating, "Security agents today attempted to arrest Malam Nasir@elrufai as he arrived on a flight from Cairo. Malam El-Rufai declined to follow them without a formal Invitation. They however snatched his international passport from an aide." This incident immediately sparked concerns about the rule of law and due process.
Three days after the airport incident, Mr El-Rufai honoured an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He has since been in detention. The anti-graft agency interrogated him for three days before granting him bail. However, he was subsequently re-arrested by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Allegations of Bribery and Obstruction
Providing an update on the situation, the DSS, which had filed criminal charges against El-Rufai but could not arraign him on 25 February 2026 due to his custody with the ICPC, alleged that the former governor had bribed his way to evade arrest upon his return from overseas. The secret police clarified that while not all arrested operatives directly received bribes, they gave consent to the act of obstruction and would face appropriate sanctions.
Arrested Personnel Identified
A joint investigation involving the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and the Federal Ministry of Aviation led to the detention of five officers. They are:
- Ayuba YAKUBU (ASP) – Police
- Murtala Inuwa – DSS
- Najeeb MURTALA (ASI) – NIS
- Musa ADAMU – Aviation Security (AVSEC)
- Salihu VICTOR – AVSEC
The DSS stated that these individuals "have all confessed to receiving bribes to facilitate unauthorized entry into Restricted Areas, to obstruct lawful security operation in an unprecedented manner." Consequently, they have been handed over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for prosecution. Other personnel from the NIS and NCS, whose involvement was not criminal but involved abusing their uniforms to facilitate unauthorized access, will face administrative action.
El-Rufai has consistently maintained his innocence, attributing the ongoing legal challenges to a political "witch-hunt" by the current government.