Activist lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has urged former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai to take legal action instead of making public statements regarding the seizure of his international passport by the Department of State Services (DSS). Speaking on AIT’s Security Scope, Adeyanju said El-Rufai should challenge the action in court to determine whether the seizure was lawful.

Adeyanju explained that the DSS has legal powers to seize passports under certain conditions, referencing Section 2 of the DSS Instrument pursuant to the National Security Act. He noted that passport confiscation is allowed when a citizen is declared wanted or placed on a watchlist, but this action can conflict with the fundamental right of entry and exit of every Nigerian citizen.

He highlighted a precedent involving human rights lawyer Olisa Agbakoba, who successfully challenged the DSS in court over a similar passport seizure. Adeyanju emphasized that legal proceedings are the proper channel to resolve disputes, rather than public complaints or media dramatization, advising El-Rufai to seek judicial clarity.

The lawyer further noted that courts may also order passport deposits as a bail condition in ongoing trials, adding that only through proper legal action can a citizen’s rights be fully protected. He concluded that the former governor should rely on the judiciary to determine the legality of DSS actions regarding his passport.