“He can only honour a formal invitation”
Tension flared at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Thursday after aides to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai alleged that security operatives attempted to arrest him upon arrival from Cairo, Egypt.
According to his media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, operatives approached El-Rufai as he disembarked and sought to take him into custody.
Adekeye said the former governor declined, insisting on a formal invitation process.
Passport confiscation allegation
In a statement posted on social media, Adekeye alleged that security agents seized El-Rufai’s international passport from one of his aides after he refused to comply.
The claims have not been independently verified.
As of filing, no official statement had been issued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or other security agencies regarding the incident.
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Legal team cites prior communication with EFCC
El-Rufai’s counsel, Ubong Esop Akpan, said an invitation from the EFCC had been delivered to El-Rufai’s residence while he was abroad.
According to the letter issued by his legal team, the EFCC was formally notified in December 2025 that El-Rufai would comply upon his return.
Akpan stated that the EFCC was informed that El-Rufai would voluntarily appear at its office by 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 16, 2026.
“Resorting to arrest despite this clear commitment exemplifies arbitrary conduct and undermines procedural integrity,” the statement read.
The legal team demanded the return of the passport and warned of possible legal action.
Associates’ detention and political claims
The development follows El-Rufai’s recent public comments in which he alleged that some of his associates in Kaduna had been detained.
“Four people we worked together in Kaduna have been arrested; so it’s only a matter of time before they come for me too,” he said in an interview with BBC Hausa.
He suggested that political pressure was being mounted on opposition figures, though those claims have not been formally addressed by authorities.
Political context
El-Rufai, who served two terms as governor of Kaduna State under the All Progressives Congress (APC), left the ruling party in March 2025. He later joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP) before decamping to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in November.
His recent criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration has intensified in recent months.
Separately, former Attorney General Abubakar Malami is currently facing charges filed by the EFCC and has denied wrongdoing.
There is no official indication linking the airport incident to any specific investigation beyond the EFCC invitation referenced by his legal team.
What remains unclear
It is not yet publicly confirmed:
• Whether an arrest warrant was issued
• Whether the passport was formally seized
• Whether security agencies attempted physical detention
As of filing, authorities have not released an official account of events.
The situation remains allegation-based, pending confirmation.
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