El-Rufai Arrested by SSS….. As Gen.Buhari Demands His Immediate Release
Huhuonline.com understands that Mallam Nasir Ahmad el-rufai, former minister for FCT, and chieftain of the Congress for Progressive Change(CPC) , has been arrested by the officials of the state security service (SSS). He was apprehended Saturday morning at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, and was taken to the SSS headquarters in Abuja.
El-rufai, who had just returned from London, announced his arrest on twitter and said,
'Got detained by the SSS on arrival at Abuja Airport. No reason given. On our way to the SSS HQ. Will keep you posted if phones not seized'.
'We have arrived safely at SSS HQ. They are polite and courteous'.
'Inside the building waiting for the Director to arrive. I still have my phones but under watch by three polite SSS officers'.
'Taken up three floors to see the DG. He was my director of security in FCT, 2003...decent man then, will soon know if fresh air has got him'.
Continuing, el-Rufai said,
'Phone battery is going down...no tweets until i charge'.
Why We Arrested el-Rufai:
The State Security Service, SSS, Saturday evening, adjudged reasons for the arrest of former Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Malam Nasir el-Rufai.
In the words of the security agency, the former Minister was rounded up because he had written articles, which they considered seditious,and made a lot of inciting statements against the government of the country.
The complete text of the SSS statement, reads: "At 0500 hours of 2nd July, 2011, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was intercepted on arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja".
"This became necessary following Mallam el-Rufai's recent articles in the cyber and print media which have been considered by well-meaning Nigerians to be inciting, inflammatory and grossly misleading".
"For instance, his column on the back page of 1st July, 2011 edition of Thisday newspaper titled "What Nigeria Pays FG" clearly attests to this".
"It is pertinent to note that the Freedom of Information Bill (FOI Bill) has been passed into law, yet he refused to cross check his facts before publishing".
He rather chose to misinform the public with mischievously orchestrated data with the intent of causing disaffection among the populace thereby subverting Government".
"It is expected that the former Minister should have been more circumspect against the backdrop of current security challenges in the country".
"Nigeria belongs to all of us and no one should take laws into their hands as no one is above the law." The security agency however did not say if he would be charged to court".
Sedition Is Unconstitutional:
Huhuonline.com has learnt that the State Security Service (SSS) has hurriedly put together a case of sedition against the former minister, who is being interrogated.
His case file is expected to be forwarded to the office of the attorney general and minister of justice for advice.
However, huhuonline.com can disclose that charges of sedition against Nasir el-Rufai will be dismissed in any court in Nigeria. The current legal position does not recognize sedition, as it is unconstitutional.
A legal luminary, who elected anonymity, said, " the decision of the court of appeal making sedition unconstitutional would frown at criminal prosecution of Mallam Nasir el-Rufai by the government".
Buhari Demand His Release:
However, the Presidential Candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change(CPC) and former Head of State,General Muhammadu Buhari;has demanded the immediate release of former FCT minister,Mallam Nasir El-Rufai who was detained by the State Security Service(SSS) Saturday morning.
El-Rufai was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport upon his arrival from London without being told of the reasons for his arrest and whisked to the SSS Headquarters.
Gen Buhari condemns this brazen act of intimidation, harassment and flagrant violation of citizens right in a democratic atmosphere.
"It only shows that there are more people in our country who know how to win by hook and crook than those who know how to make proper use of their 'victory'' he said.
He added that hounding innocent citizens to detention in less than a month in office while failing to rise to the security challenges facing the nation shows a regime that does not understand what its priorities should be.
He therefore calls for the immediate release of El-Rufai from unjust incarceration by the SSS who can then proceed to prefer whatever charges they have against him in court
If he has committed any offence known to the laws of the land.
"But to keep him in gaol without any charges will only cast the administration in the mould of a vindictive regime that is launching a wave of political repression because it is jittery". he concluded.