Nasir el-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, faced a dramatic attempted arrest upon his return to Nigeria from Cairo, Egypt, on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. El-Rufai alleged that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had procured officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) to abduct him. According to Muyiwa Adekeye, his media aide, security operatives approached el-Rufai shortly after he disembarked from his flight, attempting to take him into custody without a formal invitation. El-Rufai recounted in a BBC interview that when he asked the DSS operatives for a letter of interview, they stated they would show it to him outside the airport. He claimed approximately 50 security operatives were present because of him, and he refused to surrender his passport or accompany them without due process.

This incident is the latest in a series of controversies that have consistently trailed Mallam Nasir El-Rufai since he left office as Governor of Kaduna State. His name has frequently dominated headlines, making him an irresistible figure for media. His ministerial nomination was stalled by the Senate, reportedly due to an adverse security report from the DSS. Following this, his successor, Governor Uba Sani, hinted at probing his administration over alleged corruption. El-Rufai has also openly criticized the Bola Tinubu administration, which he played a role in bringing to power, and has contemplated leaving the All Progressives Congress (APC). To his supporters, he is a principled and outspoken figure, while critics view him as combative and controversial, affirming his status as one of Nigeria's most prominent political personalities, even out of office.

El-Rufai's return to Nigeria followed a period abroad for mandatory medical treatment and recuperation, starting November 30, 2025. While he was away, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reportedly delivered an invitation letter to his residence. His counsel, Barrister Ubong Esop Akpan, acknowledged receipt, explaining El-Rufai's medical absence and assuring compliance upon his return, with a scheduled appearance on Monday, February 16, 2026. Despite these assurances, El-Rufai had anticipated trouble. Before departing Cairo, he told BBC Hausa Service that he expected to be a target of federal authorities, referencing the arrest of four of his former aides as part of a pattern of “intimidation of opposition figures” by the Tinubu administration. His pre-return post on X, expressing hope for a safe return, carried an undertone of apprehension.

The drama at the airport intensified as El-Rufai refused to be arrested without a formal invitation or proper procedure. His lawyer, Barrister Akpan, claimed that