* Mallam Nasir El-Rufai
The Pathfinder
Thursday February 12, 2026
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The Department of State Services (DSS) has clarified that its operatives did not attempt to arrest former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, at an airport on Thursday, insisting that they only moved to retrieve his international passport following a request from the Kaduna State House of Assembly.
Recall that there was a buzz on social media few hours ago on an alleged unsuccessful arrest of the ex-governor.
The clarification follows reports that security agents attempted to arrest El-Rufai shortly after he arrived in Nigeria from Cairo, Egypt. His Media Adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, had alleged that EFCC operatives approached the former governor at the Abuja Airport and sought to take him into custody.
According to Adekeye, El-Rufai declined to accompany the officials, insisting that he would only respond to a formal written invitation. In a video circulating on social media, the former governor was seen at the airport security office surrounded by supporters while engaging with security personnel.
“If you want to invite me, write me a letter,” El-Rufai was quoted as telling the operatives.
Adekeye further alleged that the operatives seized El-Rufai’s international passport from one of his aides after he refused to go with them without official documentation. He added that the former governor later left the airport in the company of his supporters following the standoff.
Responding to the allegations, a DSS source in Abuja said the agency’s action was strictly in compliance with a request from the Kaduna State House of Assembly, which is reportedly investigating the former governor.
“That is the request from the Kaduna State House of Assembly, which is investigating him to come and account for certain things,” the source said. “The Assembly wrote to us to collect his passport so he can be compelled to answer the invitation.”
The source maintained that there was no plan to arrest El-Rufai, stressing that no individual is above the law. “He does not have any immunity. El-Rufai is not the first or the only ex-governor that will be asked to come and account for what he did while in office,” the official added.
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