The Department of State Services (DSS) has provided details regarding the seizure of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai’s passport at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
This clarification came after a statement from El-Rufai’s media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, who claimed that security personnel attempted to apprehend the former governor upon his return from a trip to Cairo, Egypt, on Thursday.
Adekeye shared on his verified X account shortly after the episode, stating: "Security agents today tried to arrest Malam Nasir El-Rufai as he arrived from Cairo. Malam El-Rufai refused to comply without an official invitation."
He further alleged that the operatives took the former governor’s passport during this encounter.
Contrarily, a source within the DSS refuted claims of an attempted arrest or detention of El-Rufai at the airport as unfounded and misleading.
The source explained that the action performed by the operatives was specifically the seizure of his passport in line with a request made by an anti-corruption agency.
"We merely took his passport to ensure he responds to their invitation," the source elaborated.
Adding more context, Adekeye reiterated that security personnel approached El- Rufai as he exited the aircraft and sought to take him into custody.
He mentioned that the former governor declined to accompany them, insisting he would not follow without an official request, asserting that his passport was taken from one of his aides.
This event occurs amidst recent statements made by El-Rufai, who indicated the possibility of being targeted for arrest by the Federal Government.
In an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, the former governor expressed concerns that recent events suggested he could be the next victim of perceived political harassment against opposition figures.
El-Rufai, who has migrated from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), revealed that several associates of his had already been detained.
"Four individuals who worked alongside me in Kaduna have been arrested; it is only a matter of time before they come for me as well," he stated.
While acknowledging he has not been taken into custody, El-Rufai argued that the arrest of his associates indicates that he could soon face similar actions.
He also alleged that political coercion is being employed to persuade politicians to either defect to the APC or remain within its ranks, contending that the present political environment forces individuals to act for self- preservation rather than genuine belief.
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