Abuja, Nigeria – Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, narrowly avoided arrest at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Thursday, February 12, 2026, after security agents attempted to apprehend him upon his arrival from Cairo, Egypt.
According to El-Rufai’s media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, the former governor refused to comply with the agents, insisting on a formal invitation. In the ensuing confrontation, security personnel allegedly seized El-Rufai’s passport from an aide.
This incident follows El-Rufai’s recent claims of a “politically motivated” plot to detain him, citing the detention of several associates. He had warned on February 11, 2026, that his arrest was “only a matter of time”.
El-Rufai has been under scrutiny for alleged misappropriation of ₦423 billion during his tenure as governor. He has informed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that he will appear at their office on February 16, 2026.
The attempted arrest has sparked concerns about the timing and motivations behind the move, with some questioning the government’s intentions.
