A tense drama unfolded at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Thursday after security operatives allegedly attempted to arrest former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, upon his arrival from Cairo, Egypt.
The development was disclosed by his media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, in a post on his 𝕏 account.
According to Adekeye, security agents approached the former governor shortly after he landed but were resisted when they failed to present a formal letter of invitation.
“Security agents today attempted to arrest Malam Nasir elrufai as he arrived on a flight from Cairo. Malam El-Rufai declined to follow them without a formal Invitation. They however snatched his passport from an aide,” Adekeye wrote.
“Give Me a Letter” — El-Rufai
Eyewitness video circulating online shows a brief exchange at the airport lobby. In the footage, El-Rufai is heard insisting on due process.
“Listen, nobody, not even the president could tell me I have to do anything. If you want to invite me, give me a letter,” he said.
While the former governor was not taken into custody, his international passport was reportedly seized by security operatives.
El-Rufai, now formally a stalwart of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had since defected into the opposition African Democratic Congress (APC) and have vowed to remove the current administration from office which it called the “most-evil government in the history of Nigeria.”
He had since alleged that the Federal Government was plotting his arrest.
The former governor and minister claimed during an interview with BBC Hausa that some politicians were being pressured to defect to the ruling party.
Although he stated he had not been arrested at the time of that interview, he alleged that some of his associates had been detained.
As of the time of this press report, security agencies had not issued an official statement regarding the attempted arrest at the airport or the reported seizure of his passport.
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