February 19, (THEWILL) — Confusion trailed security operations in Abuja on Wednesday night as armed operatives re-arrested former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, shortly after he was released on bail by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
El-Rufai, who had been in EFCC custody since Monday over corruption allegations, was granted bail at about 8:00 p.m. However, moments after his release, armed operatives reportedly lying in wait at the EFCC headquarters picked him up, leading to uncertainty over which security agency was responsible.
Sources told THEWILL that the operatives were from the Department of State Services (DSS), while other accounts linked the arrest to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which is also investigating the former governor over alleged financial misconduct.
The re-arrest comes amid a deepening confrontation between El-Rufai and security authorities, following allegations that he unlawfully intercepted phone communications belonging to Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
On Monday, the DSS filed cybercrime charges against El-Rufai at the Federal High Court in Abuja, accusing him of phone-tapping and related offences under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, stemmed from remarks he made during a live Arise Television interview. During the interview, El-Rufai claimed that the NSA’s phone had been tapped, alleging that he overheard instructions directing security operatives to detain him. He linked the alleged directive to an attempted arrest last Thursday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, shortly after his return from Cairo, Egypt.
El-Rufai’s legal team has condemned the repeated arrests, describing them as arbitrary and a violation of his constitutional rights. His lawyer, Ubong Akpan, had earlier warned that legal action would be taken against any unlawful detention and demanded the immediate return of his client’s passport.
As of press time, none of the security agencies involved had issued an official statement clarifying the circumstances surrounding El-Rufai’s re-arrest.
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