Muyiwa Adekeye, media aide to Nasir el-Rufai, stated that security agents attempted to detain the former Kaduna governor at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja as he returned from Cairo, Egypt.

In a post on X, Adekeye claimed that operatives approached el-Rufai shortly after he disembarked from his flight on Wednesday, but he refused to go with them without a formal invitation.

“Security agents today attempted to arrest Malam Nasir El-Rufai as he arrived on a flight from Cairo. Malam El-Rufai declined to follow them without a formal invitation. They however snatched his international passport from an aide,” he wrote.

Ubong Akpan, el-Rufai’s lawyer, described the incident as a “flagrant violation of constitutional rights” and “executive overreach,” asserting that Department of State Services (DSS) operatives sought to detain the former governor without a warrant or formal invitation.

According to a statement by Akpan, el-Rufai requested to see the invitation letter, but none was presented.

He said the operatives then “physically snatched” his international passport from an aide, an act the counsel called “stealing” and a breach of property rights.

Akpan added that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had delivered an invitation to el-Rufai’s residence in December 2025 while he was abroad, which his team considered impractical.

He said they formally assured the EFCC of compliance and informed the agency on February 11, 2026, that el-Rufai would voluntarily appear at their office by 10:00 am on Monday, February 16, 2026.

Akpan noted that despite this assurance, the attempted arrest went ahead.

The lawyer cited multiple constitutional violations, including rights to personal liberty, fair hearing, human dignity, freedom of movement, and property ownership.

“There exists no justifiable basis for this attempted arrest or the accompanying mistreatment. Despite prior intelligence of plans to effect this arrest, Malam El-Rufai proceeded with his return following medical treatment and rest abroad, publicly affirming his commitment to face any legitimate inquiry. This premeditated interception at the airport exemplifies lawlessness and an abuse of state power,” the statement read.

Akpan demanded the immediate return of the passport, an end to unlawful attempts to detain el-Rufai, and a formal apology.

He emphasized that el-Rufai would never evade law enforcement and would comply with all legitimate summons without conditions.

The incident follows el-Rufai’s recent claims that he could face politically motivated detention upon returning to Nigeria.

The former governor had also alleged that some of his associates were being held following his criticisms of the current administration.

Members of the National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees are presently occupying the NAFDAC office complex in Isolo, Lagos, in protest against the agency’s alleged refusal to comply with a Federal Government directive to suspend enforcement of the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic drinks in sachets.

The union is urging NAFDAC to reopen and unseal production lines that were previously shut down, referencing a directive reportedly issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Office of the National Security Adviser.

Meanwhile, NAFDAC on Wednesday rejected reports claiming that the Federal Government had instructed it to suspend enforcement of the ban on sachet and PET-bottled alcohol.

Earlier in the month, the agency began enforcing a nationwide ban on the production and sale of alcohol packaged in sachets and polyethylene terephthalate bottles.

However, social media reports circulating on Wednesday alleged that NAFDAC had been directed to halt enforcement of the prohibition.

In a statement signed by its Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, the agency described the reports as “false” and “misleading,” emphasizing that it had not received any directive from the Federal Government to suspend its regulatory operations.

“NAFDAC operates strictly within the ambit of its statutory mandate and in alignment with duly communicated Federal Government policies and directives,” the statement read.

“At no time has the Agency received any formal directive ordering the suspension of its regulatory or enforcement activities in respect of sachet alcohol products.”

The agency reiterated its commitment to protecting public health and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, adding that any significant decisions affecting national regulatory measures would be officially communicated through appropriate channels.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has denied reports claiming that the Federal Government directed it to stop enforcing the ban on alcohol sold in sachets and PET bottles.

Earlier in the month, the agency commenced nationwide enforcement of the ban on the production and distribution of alcohol packaged in sachets and polyethylene terephthalate bottles.

On Wednesday, however, social media reports alleged that NAFDAC had been ordered to suspend the enforcement of the prohibition.

In a statement issued by its Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, the agency described the reports as “false” and “misleading,” emphasizing that it had not received any instruction from the Federal Government to halt its regulatory actions.

“NAFDAC operates strictly within the ambit of its statutory mandate and in alignment with duly communicated Federal Government policies and directives,” the statement read.

“At no time has the Agency received any formal directive ordering the suspension of its regulatory or enforcement activities in respect of sachet alcohol products.”

The agency reiterated its dedication to safeguarding public health and ensuring regulatory compliance, adding that any significant decisions affecting national regulatory measures would be officially announced through proper channels.

“NAFDAC urges members of the public, industry stakeholders, and the media to disregard the false report and rely only on verified information issued through the Agency’s official platforms and authorised government communication channels,” the statement added.

NAFDAC also cautioned against the dissemination of unverified information, warning that it could lead to “unnecessary public anxiety, economic uncertainty, or misinterpretation of government policy.”

“NAFDAC remains steadfast in its commitment to public health, economic stability, and national interest,” the statement concluded.

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Ambassador Ismail Yusuf as the new Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission.

The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanugu, announced the appointment in a statement released on Wednesday, noting that it is subject to Senate confirmation in line with Section 3(2) of the NAHCON Act, 2026.

“President Tinubu sent a letter today to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, requesting the expeditious confirmation of Ambassador Yusuf to replace Professor Abdullahi Usman, who resigned this week, after about 14 months in the post,” the statement read.

Yusuf is an experienced Nigerian career diplomat who served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Türkiye between 2021 and 2024.

Yusuf’s appointment follows the reported resignation of Professor Abdullahi Usman as NAHCON chairman a day earlier.

As of the time of this report, no official explanation had been provided for his resignation.

Usman was appointed NAHCON chairman by President Tinubu in 2024 and supervised his first Hajj operations in 2025, marking his initial experience managing Nigeria’s Hajj affairs at the national level.

He had been selected in 2024 to succeed Jalal Arabi, who was removed from office by President Tinubu.

At the time of his dismissal, Arabi was under investigation for allegedly mismanaging funds allocated by the federal government for the 2024 Islamic pilgrimage.

Justice Obiora Egwatu on Thursday withdrew from overseeing the Federal High Court’s asset forfeiture proceedings involving former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, and two other defendants, citing personal reasons.

Shortly after lawyers representing the parties announced their appearances, Egwatu informed the court that he would no longer handle the case.
“Ladies and gentlemen, for personal reasons, and for the better interest of justice, I will recuse myself from this case,” he said.

The judge ordered that the case file be returned to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment.
“The instant charge CR/700/2025 filed FRN vs Abubakar Malami (SAN) and two others, shall be filed back to the Chief Judge for further directives,” Justice Egwuatu told the court.

The decision to step down comes amid an intense legal dispute over 57 properties valued at approximately ₦213.2bn, which Justice Emeka Nwite had temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government last month.

The interim forfeiture order was issued on January 6 after an ex parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which maintains that the assets are suspected proceeds of unlawful activities allegedly linked to Malami and his sons.

According to the EFCC, the assets include university buildings, hotels, shopping plazas, filling stations, residential estates, and extensive parcels of land located in Abuja, Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna states, all of which it reasonably suspects were unlawfully acquired.

Justice Nwite’s interim ruling also directed the EFCC to publish the forfeiture notice in a national newspaper and invite interested parties to show cause within 14 days why the properties should not be permanently forfeited to the government.

Malami has challenged the interim forfeiture order, maintaining that his assets were lawfully obtained and properly declared to the relevant authorities.

The former Attorney-General asked the court to dismiss the case, cautioning against what he described as “conflicting outcomes” and “duplicative litigation,” and contending that the action infringed on his rights to property, presumption of innocence, and family life.

He also requested that the court restrain the EFCC from interfering with his ownership, possession, and control of three properties identified as numbers 9, 18, and 48 in the commission’s application, asserting that one of the properties is held in trust for the estate of his late father, Kadi Malami.