Five security personnel have been detained over an alleged bribe saga involving former Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja. The officers were arrested following a joint investigation by the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and the Federal Ministry of Aviation.
The detained officers include Ayuba Yakubu (ASP) from the Nigeria Police, Murtala Inuwa from DSS, Najeeb Murtala (ASI) from Nigeria Immigration Service, Musa Adamu from Aviation Security (AVSEC), and Salihu Victor from AVSEC. They have confessed to receiving bribes to facilitate unauthorized access into restricted areas of the airport and obstruct lawful security operations.
The incident occurred on February 12, 2026, when security operatives attempted to arrest El-Rufai upon his arrival from Cairo. However, the operation failed, and his passport was seized. El-Rufai later honored an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and was grilled for three days before being granted bail.
The DSS stated that the officers’ actions were an “unprecedented compromise” of airport security protocols and handed them over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for prosecution.
Other personnel from NIS and NCS who abused their uniforms to facilitate unauthorized access will face administrative action. The authorities have assured the public that measures are being strengthened to prevent a recurrence and reinforce security integrity at all international gateways.
The arrest of the five officers has sparked debate, with some calling for stricter security measures at airports. El-Rufai is currently facing investigations over allegations of misappropriating ₦432 billion during his tenure as governor of Kaduna State.
