The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has denied involvement in Thursday’s Abuja airport altercation between former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, and some plain-cloth security agents.
The anti-graft agency confirmed that it had already invited the former governor, who is billed to appear before the commission on Monday, February 16, 2026.
“Our operatives were not involved in the altercation with Mr El-Rufai at the airport earlier today,” EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, told Peoples Gazette on Thursday night.
He added, “We have invited him, and the agreed date is Monday, February 16. There’s no way we would attempt to arrest someone that we’ve invited.”
Some plain-cloth security agents, who The Gazette has now learnt were operatives of the State Security Service (SSS), attempted to arrest Mr El-Rufai, who resisted at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, on Thursday afternoon. The incident occurred minutes after he arrived from Cairo, Egypt.
The SSS’ public relations unit did not respond to inquiries on Thursday.
Mr El-Rufai’s legal counsel, Ubong Akpan, confirmed that his client was earlier invited by the EFCC for questioning while he was abroad and would honour the agency’s invitation on Monday.
“The invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was delivered to Malam El-Rufai’s residence while he was already abroad.
“Yesterday, we explicitly notified them that he would voluntarily appear at their office by 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 16, 2026, specifying the precise place and time for addressing the invitation.
“Resorting to arrest despite this clear commitment exemplifies arbitrary conduct and undermines procedural integrity,” Mr Akpan said in a statement on Thursday.
He condemned the attempted arrest of the politician by SSS operatives, stating that the approach defied reason, as the operatives neither presented a warrant nor a formal invitation.
“Upon his arrival, security operatives from the Department of State Services moved to arrest Malam El-Rufai without presenting any warrant or formal invitation. When he calmly demanded to see the letter of invitation—a basic entitlement of any citizen facing state action—none could be produced. No document, no signed directive, no lawful process.
“There was only raw power, unclothed by law. In the same unlawful manner, operatives physically snatched his international passport from his person.
This act is nothing short of stealing—the unlawful taking of private property by agents of the state acting without colour of authority. This action constitutes a flagrant violation of constitutional rights, executive overreach, and a deliberate disregard for the rule of law,” Mr Akpan stated.
Mr Akpan demanded an immediate and unconditional cessation of all unlawful efforts to detain Mr El-Rufai, the immediate return of his passport, and a formal apology for “this egregious infringement on his dignity and rights.”
He also threatened to pursue legal action against all persons and agencies responsible for what he described as unconstitutional conduct to uphold accountability and deter future abuses.
