SSS released El-Rufai

The State Security Service on Saturday night released the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, from detention, less than 24 hours after he was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe

International Airport, Abuja.

Online portal, saharareporters.com, reports that el-Rufai was released on the intervention of the Publisher of ThisDay Newspapers and President of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena.

The former minister was arrested on Saturday morning on arrival from London and driven to the SSS headquarters also known as Yellow House in Abuja on Saturday morning.

He was interrogated by the SSS Director-General, Mr. Ita Ekpeyong, over an article titled, ‘What Nigerians pay the Federal Government‘.

The article, which was published by saharareporters, detailed how government had allocated billions of naira to the Office of the National Security Adviser and security agencies under its purview, without corresponding results.

The article also said other vital sectors had been given lesser budgetary votes.

The NPAN president and el-Rufai left the SSS headquarters around 11.10pm accompanied by the ex-minister‘s second wife and an aide, according to the report.

Obaigbena reportedly stood surety for el-Rufai.

The former minister was asked to return to the SSS headquarters on Monday for routine questioning.

The portal said it spoke with el-Rufai, who confirmed his release.

At 12.34 am on Sunday morning, el-Rufai also confirmed his release on a social medium, Twitter.

In the post, he said, ”Arrested at the airport: 5.25am. Phones seized: 10.17am. Released 10.11pm. Back home, showered and going to sleep. Thanks to all for (the) concern.”

The spokesperson for the SSS, Mrs. Marilyn Ogar, had explained on Saturday evening that el-Rufai was required to explain how he came about the figures in the article. She also said the allegations contained in the article were in breach of the Freedom of Information Act 2011.

The former minister had gone to the United Kingdom to help present the Congress for Progressive Change‘s position at Chatham House, the influential foreign policy institution, in London.