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By Lizzy Chirkpi
A bribery scandal has broken out within Nigeria’s security agencies after five officers were accused of collecting bribes during the failed attempt to arrest former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on February 12.
The Department of State Services (DSS) said the officers were detained after a joint investigation found that security operations at the airport were deliberately obstructed.
Those arrested are Ayuba Yakubu, a police officer; Murtala Inuwa of the DSS; Najeeb Murtala of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS); and two Aviation Security (AVSEC) officials, Musa Adamu and Salihu Victor.
The investigation was carried out by the DSS, NIS, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and the Federal Ministry of Aviation.
According to findings released on Tuesday, the officers allegedly admitted they collected bribes to allow unauthorised persons into restricted airport areas and to interfere with official security duties.
Part of the report stated that at the end of the joint investigation, five officers were detained for their roles in the incident. It added that they “confessed to receiving bribes to facilitate unauthorized entry into restricted areas and to obstruct lawful security operation.”
The officers have now been handed over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for prosecution.
Other personnel from the NIS and NCS who did not receive bribes but were said to have misused their uniforms to grant access will face internal disciplinary action.
The issue began on February 12 when DSS operatives reportedly tried to arrest El-Rufai on his arrival from Egypt but were unable to do so.
His spokesperson, Muyiwa Adekeye, said security agents seized the former governor’s passport after he refused to follow them without a formal invitation.
Three days later, El-Rufai honoured an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). After his release from the EFCC, he was reportedly taken into custody by the ICPC, where he remains as investigations continue.