How security snatched El-Rufai’s passport at Abuja airport – Lawyers

Following an alleged attempt to arrest Nasir El-Rufai on Thursday, his lawyers have issued a statement, narrating how the former governor’s passport was seized.

Daily Sun reported that El-Rufai’s aide announced the incident at the Abuja airport, with the former confirming the development on his X page.

In a statement on Facebook, El-Rufai’s lawyers revealed that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) tried to apprehend him upon his arrival at the airport.

According to the post, El-Rufai demanded to see the letter of invitation, but none was produced. This led to his passport being snatched, an act the lawyers called “unlawful taking of private property by agents of the state acting without colour of authority”.

“Upon his arrival, security operatives from the Department of State Services moved to arrest Malam El-Rufai without presenting any warrant or formal invitation.

“When he calmly demanded to see the letter of invitation — a basic entitlement of any citizen facing state action — none could be produced. No document, no signed directive, no lawful process.

“There was only raw power, unclothed by law. In the same unlawful manner, operatives physically snatched his international passport.

“This act is nothing short of stealing — the unlawful taking of private property by agents of the state acting without colour of authority,” part of the statement reads.