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.
Discover more from LN247
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
