*He’ll honour EFCC’s invitation on Monday, his lawyer says
The Department of State Services (DSS), has disclosed that Mallam Nasiru el-Rufai’s international passport was seized at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Thursday, following a request from an anti-graft agency which placed him on their watchlist, and denies allegations of arrest attempt.
The DSS has clarified the circumstances surrounding the reported seizure of former Governor of Kaduna State, el-Rufai’s passport.
The clarification followed a viral report attributed to el-Rufai’s media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, who claimed that security agents attempted to arrest the former governor on Thursday in Abuja, upon his arrival from Cairo, Egypt.
Adekeye, writing on his verified X handle shortly after the incident, stated: “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.”
He further alleged that operatives seized the former governor’s passport during the encounter.
However, a source within the DSS dismissed as false and misleading, claims that there was an attempt to arrest or detain el-Rufai at the airport.
According to the source, the action taken by operatives was limited to the collection of his passport in compliance with a request from an anti-graft agency.
“We only collected his passport in response to a request by an anti-graft agency, so he would honour their invitation,” the source said.
Providing additional details, Adekeye maintained that the operatives approached el-Rufai as he disembarked from his flight and sought to take him into custody.
He said the former governor declined to accompany them, insisting that he would not comply without a formal invitation, and alleged that the passport was taken from an aide.
The incident comes amid recent remarks by el-Rufai suggesting he could be arrested by the federal government.
Speaking on the BBC Hausa Service, the former governor alleged that recent developments indicated that he might be the next target of what he described as “political intimidation against opposition figures”.
el-Rufai, who recently defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), stated that some of his unnamed associates had already been detained.
“Four people we worked with in Kaduna have been arrested; so it is only a matter of time before they come for me too,” he said.
He further alleged that political pressure was being exerted on politicians to defect to the APC or remain within the ruling party, claiming that the current political climate was compelling individuals to act out of survival, rather than based on conviction.
Meanwhile, it has been disclosed that el-Rufai will appear before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by 10:00 a.m. on Monday.
Ubong Esop Akpan, counsel to the former governor, made the disclosure this while reacting to the airport brouhaha, on Thursday.
“This is a flagrant violation of constitutional rights, executive overreach, and a deliberate disregard for the rule of law.
“The invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was delivered to Malam El-Rufai’s residence while he was already abroad, rendering it inherently illogical and impractical to demand immediate attendance to answer purported allegations.
“Such an approach defies reason, as it presumes instantaneous compliance from an individual outside the jurisdiction, without regard for logistical realities or legal fairness.
”In response, we formally communicated with the EFCC on his behalf since December 2025, assuring compliance upon his return.
“Yesterday, we explicitly notified them that he would voluntarily appear at their office by 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 16, 2026, specifying the precise place and time for addressing the invitation.
“Resorting to arrest despite this clear commitment exemplifies arbitrary conduct and undermines procedural integrity.
“There exists no justifiable basis for this attempted arrest or the accompanying mistreatment. Despite prior intelligence of plans to effect this arrest, Malam El-Rufai proceeded with his return following medical treatment and rest abroad, publicly affirming his commitment to face any legitimate inquiry.
“This premeditated interception at the airport exemplifies lawlessness and an abuse of state power.”
“We demand the immediate and unconditional cessation of all unlawful efforts to detain Malam El-Rufai, the immediate return of his stolen passport, and a formal apology for this egregious infringement on his dignity and rights,” the lawyer stated. (AriseNews TV and Daily Trust)
