Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, was involved in a tense standoff with security operatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on arrival from Cairo, Egypt, yesterday. El-Rufai allegedly resisted attempts to arrest him shortly after disembarking from Egypt Air flight MS 877, insisting that due process must be followed before he could honour any invitation.
Short video clips circulating on social media showed the former governor in a heated exchange with plain-clothed operatives at the arrival terminal. In one of the clips, he was heard saying that no one, “not even the President,” could compel him without a formal letter of invitation. The confrontation reportedly escalated when operatives allegedly seized his international passport from one of his aides.
While no security agency officially confirmed the operation, El-Rufai’s legal team alleged that operatives of the Department of State Services attempted the arrest without presenting a warrant or written invitation. His aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, also claimed that the move occurred immediately after El-Rufai arrived from Egypt and described the action as unlawful.
In a statement, the Chambers of Ubong Akpan said an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had been delivered to El-Rufai’s residence while he was abroad for medical treatment. The lawyers said they had since communicated with the EFCC, assuring the commission that El-Rufai would voluntarily appear at its office by 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 16, 2026.
The legal team described the attempted arrest and seizure of the passport as unconstitutional and a violation of El-Rufai’s fundamental rights under the 1999 Constitution. They demanded the immediate return of his passport, a formal apology from the agencies involved, and warned that legal action would be pursued to ensure accountability.
