Just In: DSS Arrests El-Rufai Shortly After EFCC Bail

DSS has arrested El-Rufai after EFCC bail.

NewsRain Nigeria reports that DSS, the Department of State Service, on Wednesday night, arrested former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, shortly after he was granted bail by EFCC, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, over allegations of unlawfully intercepting the phone communications of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.

Recalls that El-Rufai had been detained by the EFCC since Monday over multi-million naira corruption allegations.

READ ALSO: BREAKING: Nigeria Govt To Arraign El-Rufai Over NSA Phone Tapping

He was granted bail at about 8 p.m. on Wednesday but was immediately re-arrested by armed DSS operatives who reportedly lay in wait at the EFCC headquarters.

Witnesses said the former governor was subsequently driven to the DSS headquarters in the Asokoro District of Abuja.

As of the time of filing this report, it remained unclear when he would regain his freedom.

Also, recall that on Monday, the DSS filed cybercrime charges against El-Rufai before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, followed remarks he made during a live interview on the Arise News Channel programme on Friday.

During the interview, El-Rufai claimed that the NSA’s phone was tapped and that the communication was relayed to him, where Ribadu was overheard directing security operatives to detain him.

He said the alleged directive led to an attempted arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Thursday, shortly after he returned from Cairo, Egypt.

Videos circulating online showed a brief confrontation between security operatives and the former governor’s entourage at the airport.

His international passport was reportedly confiscated during the encounter before he was escorted out amid chants from supporters.

In response, DSS prosecutors filed charges accusing El-Rufai of admitting to intercepting the NSA’s communications, failing to report others involved in unlawful interceptions, and compromising public safety and national security through the use of technical systems to tap the NSA’s phone.

The alleged offences are said to contravene provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.

No arraignment date has been announced, and El-Rufai has yet to publicly respond to the charges.

El-Rufai’s lawyer, Ubong Akpan, had earlier condemned the airport arrest attempt, describing it as arbitrary and unconstitutional.

According to him, the EFCC invitation was delivered to his client’s residence while he was abroad, making immediate compliance impracticable.

He said El-Rufai formally communicated with the anti-graft agency and agreed to honour the invitation at 10 a.m. on Monday upon his return.

The lawyer also demanded the immediate return of his client’s passport, describing its seizure as an infringement on his dignity and freedom of movement, and warned that legal action would be taken against any unlawful detention.

The embattled former governor has faced increasing scrutiny since leaving office, including allegations of diverting N423 billion in public funds.

In 2024, the Kaduna State House of Assembly called for investigations into his administration, while the ICPC also summoned him for questioning.