Security agents attempted to arrest El-Rufai at Abuja Airport
Security operatives reportedly attempted to arrest former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Thursday, February 12, 2026, as he returned to Nigeria from Cairo, Egypt, his media aide has said. According to Muyiwa Adekeye, El-Rufai’s media adviser, the former governor was approached by security personnel shortly after disembarking from his flight. El-Rufai declined to accompany them because no formal warrant or written invitation was presented, and he insisted that due process must be followed before he could comply with any request to go with the officials. During the encounter, the aide alleged that the operatives seized El-Rufai’s international passport from one of his team members amid the standoff at the airport. Supporters and bystanders were said to be present during the incident, and video footage circulating on social media showed moments of tension as El-Rufai was surrounded by his team while discussions with the security agents continued. Neither the Department of State Services (DSS) nor the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had issued an official statement confirming the attempted arrest as of late Thursday, and it remained unclear which agency was involved. El-Rufai’s legal team has strongly condemned the move, describing it as a violation of his constitutional rights and an example of executive overreach, especially since his lawyers had informed the EFCC of his willingness to voluntarily appear at its office on a specified future date to address any questions or allegations. The former governor later spoke out on social media, warning against the disregard for the rule of law and stressing that no attempt to detain him without proper legal basis would succeed amid his commitment to honour legitimate inquiries in line with established procedures.
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