- Safiu Kehinde
The Department of State Services (DSS) has nabbed five security officers for allegedly receiving bribes from the embattled former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
In a joint investigation reportedly conducted by the DSS, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and the Federal Ministry of Aviation, the officers were alleged to have collected bribe from El-Rufai to facilitate his escape at the airport upon his return to Nigeria.
Recall that the former Kaduna governor had on the 12th of February resisted arrest by security operatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, following his arrival from Cairo, Egyot.
Drama would ensue at the airport as mammoth crowd of supporters further foiled the security operatives attempt to arrest the ex-Kaduna governor as they challenged the personnel while accompanying El-Rufai out of the airport.
The incident would on Tuesday be revisited as the DSS announced the arrest of the five security officials alleged to have colluded with El-Rufai to plan his escape from the airport.
According to reports, the arrested officers include ASP Ayuba YAKUBU- Police, Murtala Inuwa – DSS, and ASI Najeeb Murtala- Immigration.
The other two personnel include two Aviation Security officers identified as Musa Adamu and Salihu Victor.
The arrested officers have reportedly confessed to receiving bribes to facilitate unauthorized access into restricted airport areas and to obstruct lawful security operations.
While labelling the act a serious insider compromise of critical national infrastructure, the DSS said the officers involved have been handed over to Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for prosecution.