Former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has reacted publicly to what he described as an unlawful attempt by security operatives to arrest him at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Thursday
His reaction followed the circulation of a viral video showing a tense exchange between El-Rufai and security personnel shortly after his arrival from Cairo, Egypt, an incident that triggered widespread debate online.
Posting briefly on X, the former governor said the matter had already been taken up by his lawyers.
“My lawyers have issued a statement that condemns the illegal attempt to arrest me today at the Abuja airport upon my arrival from Cairo.”
“Our country must outgrow executive overreach and deliberate disregard for the rule of law.”
In a longer statement later shared on Facebook, El-Rufai’s legal team described the airport incident as “a flagrant violation of constitutional rights, executive overreach, and a deliberate disregard for the rule of law.”
The lawyers explained that El-Rufai had earlier been invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission while he was already outside Nigeria, making instant compliance impossible.
“The invitation from the EFCC was delivered to Malam El-Rufai’s residence while he was already abroad, rendering it inherently illogical and impractical to demand immediate attendance.”
They revealed that since December 2025, they had maintained official communication with the EFCC, assuring the commission that El-Rufai would honour the invitation upon his return. According to them, the commission was clearly informed that he would voluntarily present himself at the EFCC office by 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 16, 2026.
Despite this understanding, the lawyers alleged that operatives of the Department of State Services attempted to arrest El-Rufai immediately after he landed in Abuja aboard Egypt Air flight MS 877, without presenting any warrant or written invitation.
“When he calmly demanded to see the letter of invitation, a basic entitlement of any citizen facing state action, none could be produced. No document, no signed directive, no lawful process.”
The legal team further alleged that El-Rufai’s international passport was seized without lawful authority, describing the action as an illegal confiscation of private property. They also claimed that members of the public at the airport objected to the attempted arrest, insisting that due process must be followed.
According to the statement, the incident breached several provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), including the rights to personal liberty, fair hearing, human dignity, freedom of movement, and property.
“There exists no justifiable basis for this attempted arrest or the accompanying mistreatment.”
The lawyers added that El-Rufai returned to Nigeria despite prior intelligence suggesting plans to arrest him, stressing that he was willing to face any lawful inquiry.
They demanded the immediate release of his passport, an end to what they described as unlawful attempts to detain him, and a formal apology from the agencies involved. They also warned that legal action would be pursued against those responsible, while maintaining that El-Rufai would comply with all legitimate summons and had no intention of evading law enforcement.
The statement was signed by Mr. Ubong Esop Akpan of the Chambers of Ubong Akpan, counsel to Malam Nasir El-Rufai, and dated February 12, 2026.
The incident comes shortly after El-Rufai raised concerns that he might soon be arrested by the Federal Government. Speaking during an interview with BBC Hausa, the former governor alleged increasing political intimidation of opposition figures, particularly following his recent defection from the All Progressives Congress to the African Democratic Congress.
“Four people we worked together in Kaduna have been arrested; so it’s only a matter of time before they come for me too.”
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