Lawyers to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, have condemned what they describe as an illegal attempt to arrest him at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
In a statement on Thursday, counsel Ubong Esop Akpan said security operatives tried to arrest El-Rufai when he arrived from Cairo on Egypt Air flight MS 877.
He said the move was unlawful and violated El-Rufai’s constitutional rights.
“We unequivocally condemn the attempted illegal arrest of our client by security operatives,” the lawyer said, calling it “a flagrant violation of constitutional rights, executive overreach, and a deliberate disregard for the rule of law.”
Akpan explained that the invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was sent while El-Rufai was abroad and that the lawyers had already informed the agency that he would appear on Monday, February 16, 2026.
“We explicitly notified them that he would voluntarily appear at their office by 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 16, 2026,” he said.
The lawyer claimed operatives tried to arrest El-Rufai without showing any warrant or invitation letter and also took his international passport.
“There was only raw power, unclothed by law,” Akpan said.
“Operatives physically snatched his international passport. This act is nothing short of stealing.”
He said members of the public at the airport protested and demanded that any arrest must follow due process.
Akpan also cited sections of the Nigerian Constitution, including the rights to personal liberty, fair hearing, dignity, freedom of movement and property.
“No government agency possesses unfettered authority to detain citizens without due process,” he said.
The lawyers demanded an immediate end to what they called unlawful actions, the return of El-Rufai’s passport and a public apology.
“Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai will never take the cowardly route of running away from law enforcement,” the statement said.
“He will honour, without preconditions, all legitimate law enforcement summons.”
The lawyers added that they would take legal action against those involved in the incident.
