Why We Seized El-Rufai’s Passport — DSS

The Department of State Services (DSS) says it confiscated the passport of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, as part of an ongoing investigation into the 2019 disappearance of Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata.

A senior security official disclosed that El-Rufai and one of his sons are being investigated over alleged links to the abduction of the university lecturer, who has not been seen since he was taken from his Kaduna home on August 1, 2019.

According to the official, DSS operatives seized the former governor’s passport last Thursday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport to prevent him from departing Nigeria for Egypt after a short visit.

The source said El-Rufai was aware of the investigation and had planned to visit the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Crimes Commission before returning to Cairo. “Seizing his passport disrupted those plans,” the official said.

The DSS reopened the Dadiyata case after months of internal review, the source added, noting that preliminary findings suggested the former governor may have had prior knowledge of circumstances surrounding the disappearance.

Dadiyata, a lecturer at the Federal University Dutsinma in Katsina State, was declared missing after gunmen abducted him from his residence. Despite local and international attention, including advocacy from rights groups, his whereabouts remain unknown.

During a recent appearance on Arise News, El-Rufai said he was informed of an alleged confession by a police officer who claimed to have been part of a team sent from Kano to carry out the abduction. He denied knowing Dadiyata personally and said the matter should be directed at the Kano State government.

The DSS source questioned why such information, if credible, was not reported to security agencies at the time. “It raises serious concerns,” the official said.

Investigators are also reviewing social media posts by El-Rufai’s sons, Bello and Bashir, which the DSS says appear inconsistent with the former governor’s public claim that he had no prior knowledge of Dadiyata.

Bashir posted comments on X in December 2019 referencing those demanding answers about the disappearance. In March 2020, Bello, now a member of the House of Representatives, shared a separate message that authorities say is relevant to the inquiry.

The DSS indicated that both sons will be invited for questioning.

The agency clarified that its probe is distinct from financial investigations being conducted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Crimes Commission into alleged mismanagement of public funds during El-Rufai’s tenure.

In June 2024, the Kaduna State House of Assembly petitioned the anti-graft agencies over alleged irregularities involving more than N423 billion under the former administration.

Meanwhile, several public figures have called for a thorough investigation into Dadiyata’s disappearance, including Abdullahi Ganduje, Omoyele Sowore, Reno Omokri, Chidi Odinkalu, Deji Adeyanju and Shehu Sani.

The DSS said investigations are ongoing and declined further comment.