Former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, faced an attempted arrest by security operatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Thursday, February 12, 2026, upon his arrival from Cairo, Egypt. This incident, which unfolded amidst a mild drama captured in a widely circulated video, has sparked widespread condemnation and ignited discussions about the rule of law in Nigeria.

According to El-Rufai's media adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, security agents approached the former governor shortly after he disembarked from his flight. El-Rufai, however, declined to follow them, insisting on a formal invitation or warrant. Despite his refusal, operatives reportedly seized his international passport from an aide, an act El-Rufai's counsel later described as illegal and a flagrant violation of constitutional rights.

Reacting to the incident, El-Rufai took to his X handle (formerly Twitter), condemning the attempted arrest as illegal and stating, “Our country must outgrow executive overreach and deliberate disregard for the rule of law.” He affirmed that his lawyers had issued a statement addressing the matter, which they termed “a flagrant violation of constitutional rights, executive overreach, and a deliberate disregard for the rule of law.”

El-Rufai's counsel, Ubong Esop Akpan, detailed the sequence of events, stating that operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS), and reportedly the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), moved to detain the former governor without presenting any warrant or formal invitation, despite being requested. Akpan further alleged that the operatives “physically snatched” El-Rufai’s international passport, an action he deemed “stealing” and a violation of property rights.

The legal team revealed that the EFCC had previously delivered an invitation to El-Rufai’s residence in December 2025 while he was abroad. His team deemed this impractical for immediate attendance and had formally communicated with the EFCC, assuring compliance. They specifically notified the commission on February 11, 2026, that El-Rufai would voluntarily appear at the EFCC office by 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 16, 2026. The attempted airport arrest, therefore, occurred despite this explicit commitment.

Akpan’s statement outlined several constitutional infringements, including violations of El-Rufai’s rights to personal liberty, a fair hearing, the dignity of the human person, freedom of movement, and the right to property. The counsel demanded the immediate return of the seized passport, an unconditional cessation of all unlawful efforts to detain El-Rufai, and a formal apology for the egregious infringement on his dignity and rights. He also warned that legal action would be taken against those responsible for the unconstitutional conduct, emphasizing that El-Rufai would not evade law enforcement and would honour all legitimate summons without preconditions.

The incident follows El-Rufai’s recent public claims that he could face arrest, alleging political intimidation and that some of his associates had already been detained. He had made these allegations during an interview with BBC Hausa, expressing concerns over what he described as growing political pressure against opposition figures. El-Rufai’s political landscape has seen changes since he left office in 2023; he has become a vocal critic of the current administration after his nomination as a minister was declined by the Senate, reportedly due to a security report. He subsequently exited the All Progressives Congress (APC) to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Furthermore, El-Rufai has been subject to a probe into his administration initiated by his successor, Governor Uba Sani, in March 2024, the outcome of which he challenged in court. He is also reportedly under investigation by the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for corruption allegations, which he has consistently denied, maintaining that he is being targeted for political reasons. As of the time of the reports, there was no official statement from the security agencies or the EFCC regarding the attempted arrest.