Muyiwa Adekeye, media aide to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has alleged that security operatives attempted to arrest the former governor at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, upon his return from Cairo, Egypt.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Adekeye claimed that operatives approached El-Rufai shortly after he disembarked from his flight on Wednesday. However, the former governor reportedly declined to accompany them, insisting that no formal invitation or warrant had been presented.
El-Rufai’s counsel, Ubong Akpan, condemned the incident, describing it as a “flagrant violation of constitutional rights” and an act of “executive overreach.” In a statement, Akpan alleged that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) sought to detain his client without a warrant or formal letter of invitation.
According to Akpan, El-Rufai requested to see the alleged letter of invitation, but none was produced. He further claimed that during the encounter, operatives “physically snatched” the former governor’s international passport from one of his aides — an action the lawyer described as unlawful and a violation of property rights.
Akpan disclosed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had earlier delivered an invitation to El-Rufai’s residence in December 2025 while he was out of the country — a move his legal team considered impractical under the circumstances.
He said the team subsequently assured the EFCC of their willingness to cooperate and formally notified the commission on February 11, 2026, that El-Rufai would voluntarily appear at its office by 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 16, 2026.
Despite this commitment, Akpan alleged that the attempted arrest went ahead.
The lawyer cited what he described as multiple constitutional breaches, including violations of El-Rufai’s rights to personal liberty, dignity of the human person, freedom of movement, fair hearing, and ownership of property.
“There exists no justifiable basis for this attempted arrest or the accompanying mistreatment,” the statement read. “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.”
Akpan demanded the immediate return of El-Rufai’s passport, an end to what he termed unlawful efforts to detain him, and a formal apology from the authorities involved.
He maintained that the former governor has no intention of evading law enforcement and remains prepared to honour any legitimate summons without preconditions.
