Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai dramatically resisted an apparent attempt by security operatives to detain him at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Thursday, defiantly declaring that no one, including Tinubu could compel him without following due process.
The incident unfolded shortly after El-Rufai landed from Cairo, Egypt.
According to his media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, plain-clothed security agents approached the former governor with the intention of arresting him.
El-Rufai refused to accompany them, insisting on a formal invitation or warrant.
In video footage circulating online from the confrontation, El-Rufai is heard addressing the operatives firmly: “Listen, nobody, not even the president will tell me what to do.
If you want to invite me, send a letter.”
The standoff ended without El-Rufai being taken into custody, but agents reportedly seized his international passport from one of his aides during the encounter.
Adekeye described the move as unlawful, stating: “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 passport from an aide.”
El-Rufai’s legal team swiftly condemned the episode, calling it a violation of his rights and demanding the immediate return of the passport along with an apology.
In a statement, counsel Ubong Esop Akpan argued that the attempted arrest lacked any warrant or lawful basis, and the confiscation breached constitutional protections, including the right to own property.
The development comes amid heightened political tensions surrounding the former governor.
El-Rufai, once a prominent figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a close ally of past administrations, has increasingly criticized aspects of the current government.
Just a day earlier, he had publicly raised concerns about a possible politically motivated arrest, pointing to the detention of associates and warning that his own detention was “only a matter of time.”
No official statement has been issued by the security agency involved — reports suggest it may be linked to anti-corruption or investigative operatives — regarding the reasons for the attempted detention or the passport seizure.
Authorities have not confirmed or denied the incident as of this report.
Supporters of El-Rufai have framed the event as evidence of selective political intimidation, while critics argue it reflects ongoing scrutiny over his tenure and related matters.
The former governor departed the airport with his entourage after the altercation, with the passport issue remaining unresolved.
The episode has sparked widespread debate on social media and in political circles about due process, executive overreach, and the state of Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
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