Security agents reportedly attempted to arrest former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, upon his return from Cairo, Egypt.
The allegation was made on Thursday by his media adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, in a post on X.
“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. They however snatched his international passport from an aide,” Mr Adekeye wrote.
Adekeye did not identify the security agency involved.
El-Rufai had on Wednesday told BBC Hausa that he could be arrested on arrival in Nigeria.
“Four people we worked with in Kaduna have been arrested; so it’s only a matter of time before they come for me too,” he said.
Ubong Akpan, counsel to El-Rufai, said operatives approached the former governor shortly after he disembarked from his flight but did not present a warrant or letter of invitation when requested.
In a statement, MrAkpan said the operatives took El-Rufai’s international passport from an aide after he asked to see a formal invitation.
Akpan also disclosed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had delivered an invitation to El-Rufai’s residence in December 2025 while he was outside the country.
He said the former governor’s team responded, assuring the commission of compliance and notifying it on February 11, that El-Rufai would appear at the EFCC office by 10:00 a.m. on February 16.
According to the counsel, the attempted arrest occurred despite that communication.
A video circulating on social media shows El-Rufai at the airport in the presence of security personnel.
The footage captures a discussion between him and the operatives.
Akpan demanded the return of the passport and called for an end to efforts to detain his client.
He also asked for an apology.
The incident follows recent claims by El-Rufai that he could face arrest after criticising the current administration and alleging that some of his associates had been detained.
There was no official statement from the security agencies or the EFCC as of the time of filing this report.
