WorldStage– The Department of State Services (DSS) has been reported to have arrested five security officers for collecting bribes from former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai to facilitate his escape at the airport upon his return to Nigeria a few weeks ago.
A joint investigation by the DSS, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and Federal Ministry of Aviation revealed the five officers involved as Ayuba YAKUBU (ASP) – POLICE; Murtala Inuwa – DSS; Najeeb MURTALA (ASI) – NIS; Musa ADAMU – Aviation Security (AVSEC); and Salihu VICTOR – AVSEC
According to sources who craved anonymity, the DSS confirmed officers involved have been handed over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for prosecution.
The DSS, also disclosed that the officers confessed to receiving bribes to facilitate unauthorized access into restricted airport areas and to obstruct lawful security operations, describing the act as a serious insider compromise of critical national infrastructure.
Meanwhile, additional personnel of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) whose involvement was not criminal (no bribe received) but abused their uniforms to facilitate unauthorized access will face administrative action, DSS stated.
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.
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 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,” DSS further stated on the arrest.
El-Rufai has maintained innocence, accusing the government of the day of witch-hunt.
