Five security personnel have been arrested for allegedly compromising professional standards while attending to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) on February 12, 2026.
The officers, drawn from multiple security and aviation agencies, are accused of receiving bribes to grant the former governor unauthorised access to restricted security areas at the airport, allegedly obstructing lawful security operations.
According to an official statement, the arrests followed a joint investigation involving the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and the Federal Ministry of Aviation.
Authorities said the officers allegedly confessed to receiving bribes to facilitate unauthorised entry into restricted areas in what was described as an “unprecedented manner.”
“They have all confessed to receiving bribes to facilitate unauthorised entry into restricted areas, to obstruct lawful security operations in an unprecedented manner,” the statement said.
The detained officers have since been handed over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for prosecution.
The statement also indicated that additional officers who may not have received bribes but allegedly abused their official positions to enable unauthorised access will face administrative sanctions.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
What you should know
Five security officers have been arrested and transferred to the ICPC for prosecution over alleged bribery and unauthorised access at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport during Nasir El-Rufai’s arrival.
Authorities say further disciplinary measures may follow as investigations continue.