El-Rufai to honour EFCC invitation Monday, lawyer alleges rights violation at Abuja airport

 

Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, will appear before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission by 10 a.m. on Monday, his counsel has said, following an attempted arrest at the Abuja airport which he described as unconstitutional and procedurally flawed.

Counsel to the former governor, Ubong Esop Akpan, disclosed this on Friday while reacting to an incident involving operatives of the Department of State Services at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport shortly after El-Rufai arrived from Cairo, Egypt, on Thursday.

According to the lawyer, security operatives approached his client in a bid to arrest him over an EFCC invitation, despite prior communication indicating that the former governor would present himself voluntarily upon return to the country.

He described the move as an “unlawful attempted arrest” and a violation of constitutional rights, alleging executive overreach and disregard for due process.

The counsel explained that the anti-graft agency had earlier sent an invitation to his client while he was outside Nigeria. He said the timing made immediate compliance impossible, but that his chambers formally notified the commission in December 2025 that El-Rufai would honour the invitation once back in the country.

Akpan said he subsequently reaffirmed to the commission that his client would appear at its office by 10 a.m. on Monday, February 16, 2026.

He faulted the attempted arrest at the airport, arguing that no warrant or formal letter of invitation was presented when requested. He further alleged that operatives seized the former governor’s international passport during the encounter, calling the action unlawful and a breach of property rights.

Citing relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the lawyer maintained that the action infringed on fundamental rights, including personal liberty, fair hearing, dignity of the human person, freedom of movement and right to own property.

He demanded the immediate release of the passport, a halt to any further attempt to detain his client without due process, and a formal apology from the authorities involved.

The counsel added that the former governor is willing to cooperate with law enforcement agencies and will not evade lawful summons, warning that legal action would be taken against officials and agencies found responsible for what he termed unconstitutional conduct.