In a major development on Nigeria’s security and political landscape, the Department of State Services (DSS) says it has arrested and will subsequently handover for prosecution of five security operatives.

These officials are accused of receiving bribes to facilitate the unauthorised return of the former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, to Nigeria from Egypt.

According to a brief statement released by the DSS on February 12, the arrests followed a rigorous joint investigation involving the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and the Federal Ministry of Aviation.

The investigation tried to uncover the circumstances surrounding the former governor’s return, which reportedly involved breaches of established security protocols.

The Accused and Their Roles

The DSS identified the five detained officers as:

• Ayuba Yakubu (ASP) – Nigeria Police Force
• Murtala Inuwa – Department of State Services (DSS)
• Najeeb Murtala (ASI) – Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS)
• Musa Adamu – Aviation Security (AVSEC)
• Salihu Victor – Aviation Security (AVSEC)

The statement said the individuals have confessed to receiving bribes. Their actions allegedly facilitated El-Rufai’s “unauthorised entry into Restricted Areas” and “obstructed lawful security operations in an unprecedented manner.“

The investigation wasn’t limited to those who accepted bribes.

The DSS statement clarified that other officials from the NIS and NCS were also found to be involved.

While their actions were not deemed criminal—meaning they did not receive bribes—they were found to have “abused their uniforms to facilitate unauthorised access.”

These officers are expected to face internal administrative actions from their respective agencies.

Handover to ICPC

The five primary suspects have been handed over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for formal prosecution.

This government says it remains committed to tackling corruption within its security apparatus and ensuring that those who compromise national security for personal gain are held accountable.

Nasir El-Rufai, an often-controversial personality in Nigerian politics, had been out of the country for some time following the end of his tenure as Governor of Kaduna State.

He appeared to fall out of the government when he did not get a ministerial appointment after he helped it win election in 2023.

As the ICPC begins its prosecution of the five officials, more details about the scale and the specific security protocols that were bypassed are expected to emerge.

The administrative actions against the other involved officers will also be closely watched as the government will be pressed to prove it has no political motivation against Mr El Rufai.

The former governor has since joined the opposition ADC party and has vowed to help remove the party from office in the presidential election next year.