Muyiwa Adekeye, media adviser to former Kaduna State governor Nasir el-Rufai, has alleged that security operatives tried to arrest his principal at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, shortly after his return from Cairo, Egypt.
In a post shared on X on Wednesday, Adekeye claimed that the operatives approached el-Rufai after he disembarked from his flight but failed to present any formal invitation or warrant.
“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,” Adekeye wrote.
El-Rufai’s lawyer, Ubong Akpan, also condemned the incident, describing it as a “flagrant violation of constitutional rights” and an act of “executive overreach.” According to him, operatives believed to be from the Department of State Services (DSS) sought to detain the former governor without producing any official document.
Akpan said el-Rufai requested to see a written invitation, but none was provided. He alleged that the operatives then “physically snatched” his client’s international passport from an aide, an action he described as “stealing” and a breach of property rights.
The lawyer further revealed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had earlier sent an invitation to el-Rufai’s residence in December 2025 while he was out of the country. He said the team later informed the anti-graft agency that the former governor would honour the invitation and had scheduled to appear voluntarily at the EFCC office by 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 16, 2026.
Despite this, Akpan said the attempted arrest still took place.
He listed several alleged constitutional violations, including breaches of personal liberty, dignity of the human person, freedom of movement, fair hearing, and the right to own property.
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“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 said.
Akpan demanded the immediate return of el-Rufai’s passport, an end to what he described as unlawful attempts to detain him, and a public apology from the authorities involved.
He added that the former governor had no intention of evading any lawful investigation and would comply with all legitimate summons.
The incident comes amid earlier claims by el-Rufai that he might be targeted for arrest for political reasons following his recent criticisms of the current administration. He had also alleged that some of his associates were being detained as a result of his stance.