The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested some security operatives in connection with the return of Malam Nasir El-Rufai to Nigeria from Egypt, on February 12.
The secret police had reportedly attempted to arrest the former Kaduna State governor at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, but failed in its bid to do so.
His passport was eventually seized.
Muyiwa Adekeye, the former governor’s spokesman, had announced the seizure of his principal’s passport after the botched arrest attempt.
“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 had posted on X.
El-Rufai had honoured the invitation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) three days later and has been in detention since then.
The anti-graft agency had grilled him for three days and granted him bail. but the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) arrested him after.
Giving an update on the situation, the DSS which filed criminal charges against El-Rufai but could not arraign him on February 25, 2026, because he was in ICPC custody, alleged that El-Rufai bribed his way through to be able to escape arrest upon his return from overseas.
However, the secret police clarified that not all those arrested collected bribe but that they gave consent to the act and would be sanctioned appropraitely.
“At the end of a joint investigation by Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and Federal Ministry of Aviation, five officers have been detained.”
They are:
i. Ayuba YAKUBU (ASP) – POLICE.
ii. Murtala Inuwa – DSS
iii. Najeeb MURTALA (ASI) – NIS
iv. Musa ADAMU – Aviation
Security ( AVSEC).
v. Salihu VICTOR – AVSEC.
“They have all confessed to receiving bribes to facilitate unauthorized entry into Restricted Areas, to obstruct lawful security operation in an unprecedented manner.
“They have been handed over to Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for prosecution.
“Others from NIS and NCS whose involvement is not criminal; that is, did not receive bribe, but abuse their uniforms to facilitate unauthorized access, will face administrative action.”
El-Rufai has maintained innocence, accusing the government of the day of witch-hunt.