Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested five security personnel on bribery charges linked to the controversial effort to detain former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on February 12, 2026.
The suspects include Ayuba Yakubu of the Nigeria Police, Murtala Inuwa of the DSS, Najeeb Murtala of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), and aviation security officers Musa Adamu and Salihu Victor. Their arrests followed a coordinated investigation involving the DSS, NIS, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and the Federal Ministry of Aviation.
Authorities stated the operatives admitted to accepting bribes in exchange for granting unauthorized access to restricted airport zones, undermining official security protocols. The suspects have been handed over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for prosecution. Additional NIS and NCS officers who allegedly misused their positions without accepting bribes are expected to face internal disciplinary action.
The incident occurred when El-Rufai returned from Cairo, Egypt. His media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, claimed operatives confronted the former governor on arrival, but he refused to comply due to the absence of a formal written directive. El-Rufai later confirmed on television that the ICPC had instructed the DSS to detain him. He was initially held by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and is now in ICPC custody amid investigations into alleged financial misconduct during his 2015–2023 tenure.
The saga intensified on February 19 when ICPC operatives searched El-Rufai’s Abuja residence, reportedly recovering wiretapping equipment—a claim denied by his family. El-Rufai further alleged unauthorized surveillance of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, claiming a conversation suggested Ribadu ordered his arrest, highlighting concerns over potential illegal government monitoring.
