Security operatives on Thursday allegedly attempted to arrest former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, upon his arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, from Cairo, Egypt.
The allegation was made by his Media Adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, in a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account shortly after the incident.
According to Adekeye, security personnel approached El-Rufai as he disembarked from his flight and sought to take him into custody. He said the former governor refused to comply, insisting he would not accompany them without a 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,” Adekeye wrote.
He further alleged that the operatives confiscated the former governor’s passport during the encounter. “They, however, snatched his passport from an aide,” he added.
There has been no official confirmation of the incident from the Nigerian Immigration Service or the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria as of the time of filing this report.
The development comes amid recent claims by El-Rufai that he could be targeted for arrest by the Federal Government. In an interview with BBC Hausa, he alleged growing political intimidation against opposition figures.
“Four people we worked with in Kaduna have been arrested; so it’s only a matter of time before they come for me too,” he said.
El-Rufai, who recently defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), claimed that some politicians were being pressured to either remain in or defect to the APC. He argued that the current political climate was forcing decisions driven by survival rather than conviction.
The former governor, who led Kaduna State for eight years under the APC, has recently intensified his criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the party’s leadership.
His remarks come amid the arrest and ongoing legal battle involving former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has accused Malami of offences including abuse of office and money laundering, while the Department of State Services reportedly rearrested him over fresh allegations related to terrorism financing.
Malami, who also defected to the ADC and is reportedly eyeing the Kebbi State governorship in 2027, has denied all allegations, describing the charges as politically motivated.
Watch the video below:
— Punch Newspapers (@MobilePunch) February 12, 2026
Credit: X | MuyiwaAdekeye
—
Follow us for more breaking news and videos pic.twitter.com/8rPyL7OKeR
