The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested several security operatives following weeks of investigation into the circumstances surrounding the return of former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, from Egypt on February 12.
The DSS had reportedly attempted to arrest El-Rufai upon his arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, but was unsuccessful. During the incident, his international passport was seized.
Muyiwa Adekeye, El-Rufai’s former spokesman, confirmed the development at the time, stating that security agents tried to detain the former governor without a formal invitation.
“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,” Adekeye wrote on X.
Three days later, El-Rufai honoured an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), where he was reportedly grilled for three days before being granted bail. However, he was subsequently arrested by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
In an update, the DSS, which had filed criminal charges against El-Rufai but was unable to arraign him on February 25, 2026, due to his being in ICPC custody, alleged that the former governor bribed officials to evade arrest upon his return to the country.
The agency clarified that while not all the officers arrested directly received bribes, some allegedly consented to the act and would face sanctions accordingly.
According to a statement, five officers were detained following a joint investigation involving the DSS, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and the Federal Ministry of Aviation.
Those detained include:
- Ayuba Yakubu (ASP) – Nigeria Police Force
- Murtala Inuwa – DSS
- Najeeb Murtala (ASI) – NIS
- Musa Adamu – Aviation Security (AVSEC)
- Salihu Victor – AVSEC
The DSS stated that the officers allegedly confessed to receiving bribes to facilitate unauthorized access to restricted areas and to obstruct lawful security operations.
“They have all confessed to receiving bribes to facilitate unauthorized entry into restricted areas and to obstruct lawful security operation in an unprecedented manner. They have been handed over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for prosecution,” the statement read.
The agency added that other personnel from the NIS and NCS whose involvement was deemed non-criminal—having not received bribes but allegedly abused their positions to facilitate unauthorized access—would face administrative disciplinary measures.
El-Rufai has maintained his innocence, describing the actions against him as a political witch-hunt by the current administration.
