- Nasir El-Rufai’s media aide alleged security agents attempted to arrest him upon arrival at Abuja airport from Cairo
- The former governor reportedly refused to comply without a formal invitation, while his passport was allegedly seized
- The incident followed El-Rufai’s claims of political intimidation and came amid wider legal scrutiny of former APC officials
Security agents 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 El-Rufai’s Media Adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, in a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle shortly after the incident.
According to Adekeye, operatives approached the former governor as he disembarked from his flight and sought to take him into custody. He said El-Rufai declined to accompany them, insisting on due process.
“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,” the statement read.
Adekeye further alleged that the operatives seized the former governor’s passport during the encounter.
“They, however, snatched his passport from an aide,” he added.
The development comes a day after El-Rufai, in an interview with BBC Hausa, alleged that he could be arrested by the Federal Government, citing what he described as increasing political intimidation against opposition figures.
“Four people we worked together with in Kaduna have been arrested; so it’s only a matter of time before they come for me too,” El-Rufai had said.
Although he stated that he had not been arrested at the time, he suggested that the detention of his associates signalled possible action against him.
The former governor, who recently defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), also alleged that political pressure was being mounted on politicians to either defect to the APC or remain within the ruling party.
According to him, the current political climate is compelling some individuals to make political decisions out of survival rather than conviction.
El-Rufai, who governed Kaduna State for eight years under the APC platform, has in recent months intensified his criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the party’s leadership.
The incident also comes amid the arrest and ongoing trial of former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, who is facing allegations including abuse of office and money laundering. The Department of State Services (DSS) later rearrested Malami over fresh claims related to terrorism financing.
Malami, who has also defected to the ADC and is reportedly eyeing the Kebbi State governorship in 2027, has denied all allegations, describing them as politically motivated.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Immigration Service, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, and other security agencies had not issued an official response to the allegations regarding the attempted arrest of El-Rufai.