By Peter Omopo
Counsel to former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, have condemned what they described as an unlawful attempt by security operatives to arrest him at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
In a statement issued in Abuja on February 12, 2026, the legal team, led by Ubong Esop Akpan of The Chambers of Ubong Akpan, alleged that the incident occurred shortly after El-Rufai arrived from Cairo aboard Egypt Air flight MS 877 on Thursday.
According to the lawyers, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) attempted to arrest their client without presenting a warrant of arrest or a formal letter of invitation. They further alleged that the operatives seized his international passport during the encounter.
The legal team disclosed that a prior invitation had been issued to El-Rufai by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and delivered to his residence while he was outside the country. They said they had since December 2025 been in communication with the EFCC, assuring the Commission that the former governor would honour the invitation upon his return.
The statement added that the EFCC had been formally notified that El-Rufai would voluntarily appear at its office by 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 16, 2026.
Describing the airport incident as unconstitutional, the lawyers cited provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), including sections relating to personal liberty, fair hearing, dignity of the human person, freedom of movement, and the right to own property.
They maintained that there was no lawful basis for the attempted arrest and called for the immediate return of El-Rufai’s passport, as well as a halt to what they termed unlawful efforts to detain him.
The legal team reiterated that their client is willing to honour any legitimate invitation from law enforcement agencies and would not evade investigation.
They also indicated their intention to pursue appropriate legal action against any individuals or agencies found culpable, stating that the matter would be addressed through judicial channels.
As of the time of filing this report, security agencies had not issued an official response to the allegations.
