Nigeria Must Outgrow Executive Overreach El Rufai Reacts to Attempted Arrest and Passport Seizure
Published on February 12, 2026
By Ochogwu Sunday
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has cautioned that Nigeria must move away from actions that undermine the rule of law, following an alleged attempt by security operatives to arrest him in Abuja.
El Rufai was reportedly confronted by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday upon his arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja from Cairo Egypt.
According to reports, the operatives seized the former governor’s international passport during the encounter.
Reacting to the development, El Rufai’s legal counsel Ubong Esop Akpan issued a statement condemning the action and demanding the immediate return of the passport.
The lawyer warned that legal action would be taken against those involved if the matter was not resolved promptly.
The counsel demanded the “immediate and unconditional cessation of all unlawful efforts to detain El Rufai the immediate return of his stolen passport and a formal apology for this egregious infringement on his dignity and rights.”
El Rufai also addressed the incident in a statement posted on his verified X handle, describing the attempted arrest as illegal and reflective of a broader governance problem.
He wrote “My lawyers have issued a statement that condemns the illegal attempt to arrest me today at the Abuja airport upon my arrival from Cairo.
“Our country must outgrow executive overreach and deliberate disregard for the rule of law.”
The incident has sparked renewed debate over due process the powers of law enforcement agencies and the protection of citizens’ constitutional rights in Nigeria.
