Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai was allegedly confronted by security operatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, upon his arrival from Cairo, according to his media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye.
In a statement posted on his verified X account, Adekeye said the operatives approached El-Rufai on Thursday and sought to take him into custody. He claimed the former governor declined to accompany them, insisting on a formal invitation before complying.
“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 El-Rufai’s passport from one of his aides during the encounter.
The incident followed comments by El-Rufai in a BBC Hausa interview in which he said he feared possible arrest, citing the detention of some former associates. The ex-governor, who recently defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has been critical of the current administration.
As of press time, the Nigerian Immigration Service and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria had not responded to requests for comment.
