2nd July, 2011
The Department of State Security Services, SSS, on Saturday confirmed that former Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai is in its custody.
In a press release circulated by the image maker to the security organisation, Ms. Marilyn Ogar, the SSS confirmed the arrest of the former minister at about 5 a.m. at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Part of the release reads,“At 0500 hours of July 2, 2011, Mallam Nasiru el-Rufai, the former minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was intercepted on arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja”.
The SSS stated that el-Rufai’s arrest became necessary following his recent articles on the internet and in print media which it considered to be inciting, inflammatory and grossly misleading.
According to Ms. Ogar, el Rufai’s column on the back page of July 1, 2011 edition of Thisday Newspaper titled. “What Nigeria Pays FGâ€, which she said, clearly attests to the former Minister’s crimes.
The spokesperson queried why
El-Rufai refused to cross check his facts before publishing given that the Freedom of Information Bill has been passed into law.
“He rather chose to mislead the public with mischievously orchestrated data with the intent of causing disaffection among the populace thereby subverting government,” she stated.
Ms. Ogar stated that it is expected that the former minister should have been more circumspect against the backdrop of current security challenges in the country and noted that “Nigeria belongs to all of us and no one should take laws into their hands as nobody is above the law.”
By Nnamdi Felix / Abuja