Former Kaduna State Governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai has strongly condemned what his legal team and aides describe as an attempted unlawful arrest by security operatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, upon his return to Nigeria from Cairo, Egypt, on Thursday, February 12, 2026.
According to a statement by El-Rufai’s media adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, the incident occurred shortly after his arrival on Thursday, when security agents approached him but did not present a formal warrant or invitation before attempting to detain him. El-Rufai, the statement said, declined to go with them without due legal process.
El-Rufai’s lawyer, Ubong Akpan, described the move as a “flagrant violation of constitutional rights, executive overreach and a deliberate disregard for the rule of law.”
He said that operatives from the Department of State Services moved against the former governor without showing any formal document authorizing the action.
The legal team added that although the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had previously issued an invitation to El-Rufai — delivered while he was abroad — his lawyers had informed the agency of his return and confirmed that he would voluntarily appear at the commission’s office by 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 16, 2026. Despite this, the attempted arrest went ahead.
During the encounter, the lawyer alleged, operatives also seized El-Rufai’s international passport from one of his aides, an act the legal team said amounted to “stealing” and a violation of property rights. Some bystanders at the airport reportedly protested, insisting that any arrest must follow lawful procedure.
In response, El-Rufai posted on his social media account that Nigeria “must outgrow executive overreach and a deliberate disregard for the rule of law.” He reiterated his commitment to honour all legitimate law-enforcement invitations but stressed that due process should be respected.
The legal team has demanded the immediate return of El-Rufai’s passport, cessation of any unlawful detention efforts and a formal apology. They also said they would pursue legal action to uphold constitutional protections and challenge what they termed an abuse of state power.
As of the latest reports, security agencies have not issued an official response or clarification on the airport incident.
El-Rufai condemns alleged arrest attempt at Abuja airport
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