Nasir El-Rufai Alleges Unlawful Arrest Attempt at Abuja Airport

Nasir El-Rufai Alleges Unlawful Arrest Attempt at Abuja Airport

Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has raised alarm over what he described as an unlawful attempt by security operatives to detain him at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport after returning from Cairo.

In a statement shared on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday, El-Rufai criticised what he termed “executive overreach” and urged respect for due process and the rule of law.

Nasir El-Rufai

”My lawyers have issued a statement condemning the illegal attempt to arrest me upon my arrival from Cairo,” he wrote, stressing that Nigeria must move beyond actions that undermine constitutional procedures.

According to his media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, security personnel approached the former governor shortly after he landed in Abuja and allegedly attempted to take him into custody without presenting any formal warrant or written invitation.

Adekeye claimed that El-Rufai refused to accompany the operatives, insisting that any engagement must follow established legal procedures. He further alleged that during the encounter, the officials seized the former governor’s international passport from one of his aides before leaving the scene.

Nasir El-Rufai

As of press time, security agencies had yet to issue an official statement clarifying the circumstances surrounding the incident or confirming whether the former governor is under investigation.

The development has since sparked fresh conversations about due process, executive authority, and the rule of law in Nigeria’s political landscape.