JUST IN: EFCC’s move to arrest El-Rufai breaches ‘procedural integrity’ — lawyer
Lawyers to former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, have condemned what they described as an unlawful attempt by security operatives to arrest him at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, despite prior communication confirming his readiness to honour an EFCC invitation.
In a statement issued on Thursday, counsel to El-Rufai, Ubong Esop Akpan, said operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) attempted to arrest the former governor upon his arrival from Cairo aboard Egypt Air flight MS 877. The lawyers argued that the move was “a flagrant violation of constitutional rights” and accused authorities of executive overreach and disregard for due process.
According to the statement, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had delivered an invitation letter to El-Rufai’s residence while he was reportedly outside the country, making immediate compliance impracticable. The legal team said it had formally notified the anti-graft agency since December 2025 that their client would respond upon his return to Nigeria.
The lawyers further disclosed that on Wednesday, they informed the EFCC that El-Rufai would voluntarily appear at the Commission’s office by 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 16, 2026, to address the issues raised in the invitation.
“Resorting to arrest despite this clear commitment exemplifies arbitrary conduct and undermines procedural integrity,” the statement said.
The legal team alleged that upon arrival in Abuja, security operatives moved to arrest El-Rufai without presenting a warrant or a formal letter of invitation. They claimed that when he requested to see the relevant documentation, none was produced. The lawyers also accused operatives of seizing his international passport without lawful authority, describing the action as an infringement on his constitutional rights.
The statement said some bystanders at the airport protested the attempted arrest, insisting that due process must be followed.
Citing provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the lawyers argued that the attempted arrest violated El-Rufai’s fundamental rights, including the right to personal liberty (Section 35), fair hearing (Section 36), dignity of the human person (Section 34), freedom of movement (Section 41), and right to own property (Section 44).
Eyewitnesses at the airport reportedly expressed concern over the incident, questioning the legality of the attempted arrest and calling for adherence to due process.
El-Rufai’s counsel argued that the move contravenes several provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), including the right to personal liberty, fair hearing, dignity of the human person, freedom of movement, and protection of property.
