Tag: DSS

The Department of State Services (DSS) has taken five security personnel into custody over their alleged roles in the controversial return of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, from Egypt on February 12. According to Daily Trust, the officers were accused of aiding unauthorized access and disrupting legitimate security procedures during El-Rufai’s arrival at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. Attempts by authorities to arrest him at the airport were unsuccessful, although his international passport was confiscated. El-Rufai’s media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, confirmed that the former governor refused to cooperate with security agents at the airport because there was no formal invitation presented to him. Three days later, he honoured an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), where he was detained and questioned for three days before being granted bail. He was later arrested by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). A joint probe involving the DSS, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Nigeria Customs Service, and the Federal Ministry of Aviation reportedly uncovered misconduct, leading to the arrest of five officers: ASP Ayuba Yakubu (Police), Murtala Inuwa (DSS), ASI Najeeb Murtala (NIS), Musa Adamu (Aviation Security), and Salihu Victor (Aviation Security). The DSS disclosed that the detained officers admitted to collecting bribes to grant access into restricted airport zones and to interfere with lawful security operations. They have since been transferred to the ICPC for prosecution. Other officials found to have abused their offices without committing criminal offences are expected to face internal disciplinary measures.

The Department of State Services (DSS) has set February 25 for the arraignment of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai over alleged violations of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003. The case, assigned to Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court by Chief Judge Justice John Tsoho, is listed under suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026. Court filings show that the DSS filed a three-count charge against El-Rufai, accusing him of unlawfully intercepting the telephone communications of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu. In the first count, prosecutors allege that during a February 13 interview on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme in Abuja, El-Rufai admitted that he and others intercepted the NSA’s communications without legal authority, an offence punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes Act. The second count claims El-Rufai knowingly associated with an individual involved in the interception but failed to report the matter to security agencies, contrary to Section 27(b) of the same Act. The third count alleges that in 2026, in Abuja, El-Rufai and others still at large used technical equipment to intercept the NSA’s communications in a way that compromised public safety and national security, violating Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003. The charges stem from statements El-Rufai made during the televised interview, in which he claimed to have overheard the NSA directing security operatives to detain him. He linked this alleged directive to an attempted arrest at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on February 12, shortly after returning from Cairo, Egypt. The arraignment comes as El-Rufai faces multiple legal challenges. He was previously detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over separate corruption allegations. Although granted administrative bail on Wednesday evening, he was immediately taken into custody by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). ICPC spokesperson John Odey confirmed that El-Rufai “is in the custody of the commission in connection with ongoing investigations.”