Date Published: 07/02/11

SSS Arrests El-Rufai in Abuja

Mallam Nasir El-Rufai

Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, the ex-minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was arrested this morning at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja by operatives of the State Security Services (SSS).

El-Rufai was said to have been picked up by the SSS who had allegedly waited for him at the airport on arrival from London at about 4.30 a.m local time via a British Airways flight.

Although reasons for the unexpected action could not be ascertained at the time of going to press, analysts say it might not be unconnected with a lecture delivered by the former minister while in London on the irregularities that attended the April 2011 polls in Nigeria.

He was said to have been very critical of the President Goodluck Jonathan's administration in his paper.

El-Rufai who was taken to the headquarters of the SSS was said to have alerted his Twitter followers of the unfolding development before his batteries ran low.

He was believed to have been kept for sometime before he was made to see the Director General of the SSS, Ekpenyong Ita.

There is no official statement on the arrest yet.

Courtesy Africanoutlook