JUST IN : El-Rufai evades arrest at Abuja airport

Security operatives on Thursday allegedly moved to arrest former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on his arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, from Cairo, Egypt.

The allegation was made by El-Rufai’s Media Adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, in a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account shortly after the incident.

Adekeye said the operatives approached the former governor as he got off the flight and attempted to take him into custody.

He stated that El-Rufai refused to go with them, insisting that he would only respond to a formal invitation.

The statement read, “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.”

Adekeye also alleged that the operatives seized the former governor’s passport during the encounter.

“They, however, snatched his passport from an aide,” he added.

Recall on Wednesday that El-Rufai claimed he might be arrested by the Federal Government, saying recent developments suggested he could be the next target.

El-Rufai made the claim during an interview with BBC Hausa, where he raised concerns about what he described as increasing political intimidation against opposition figures.

The former governor, who recently defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress to the African Democratic Congress, said some of his close associates had already been arrested.

“Four people we worked together in Kaduna have been arrested; so it’s only a matter of time before they come for me too,” he said.

Although he noted that he had not been arrested, El-Rufai said the detention of his associates pointed to possible action against him.

He also alleged that political pressure was being applied on politicians to either defect to the APC or remain within the ruling party.

According to him, the prevailing political atmosphere was forcing individuals to make decisions based on survival rather than conviction.

El-Rufai, who served as Kaduna State governor for eight years under the APC, has recently intensified his criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the party’s leadership.

His comments come amid the arrest and ongoing trial of a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had accused Malami of offences including abuse of office and money laundering.

The Department of State Services later rearrested him over fresh allegations related to terrorism financing.

Malami, who also defected to the ADC and is seeking the Kebbi State governorship in 2027, has denied the allegations, describing the charges as a “political witch-hunt” linked to his defection and opposition stance.

The Nigerian Immigration Service and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria had yet to officially respond to the alleged attempted arrest as of the time this report was filed.

(PUNCH)