THE legal and political troubles confronting former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai escalated Wednesday night after operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), also known as the State Security Service (SSS), arrested him shortly after his release from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
News Point Nigeria reports that El-Rufai had been detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission since Monday over corruption allegations linked to his tenure as governor.
He was granted bail at about 8:40pm on Wednesday.
However, sources told News Point Nigeria that armed DSS operatives were waiting at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja and immediately took him into custody upon his release.
He was subsequently driven to the DSS headquarters in the Asokoro District of the Federal Capital Territory. As of press time, it remained unclear when he would regain his freedom.
The latest arrest is tied to allegations that El-Rufai unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
On Monday, the DSS filed cybercrime charges against him at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, followed comments Mr El-Rufai made during a live interview on Arise Television last Friday.
During the broadcast, he claimed that the NSA’s phone had been tapped and that he overheard instructions directing security operatives to detain him. He further alleged that the directive led to an attempted arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport upon his arrival from Cairo, Egypt, last Thursday.
According to the DSS prosecution, El-Rufai admitted to accessing intercepted communications, failed to report those involved in unlawful interception, and compromised public safety and national security. The charges reportedly cite violations of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
No arraignment date has yet been announced, and El-Rufai has not publicly responded to the specific cybercrime charges.
The unfolding drama began last Thursday when security operatives attempted to detain El-Rufai at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport shortly after his return from Cairo.
Videos circulating online showed a heated exchange between security personnel and members of his entourage. Witnesses reported that officials briefly confiscated his international passport before escorting him out of the airport amid chants from supporters.
Speaking the following day on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme, El-Rufai alleged that the arrest attempt was carried out on the instruction of the National Security Adviser through the DSS. He claimed to have heard the directive via an intercepted phone conversation involving the NSA.
His lawyer, Ubong Akpan, condemned the airport incident, describing it as arbitrary and unconstitutional. He argued that the EFCC invitation was delivered to El-Rufai’s residence while he was abroad, making immediate compliance impossible.
According to the lawyer, his client formally communicated with the EFCC and agreed to honour the invitation upon his return, which he did on Monday.
Akpan also demanded the immediate return of his client’s passport, calling its confiscation an infringement on his dignity and constitutional right to freedom of movement. He warned that legal action would be pursued if further unlawful detention occurred.