By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
Muyiwa Adekeye, the Media Adviser to former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has alleged that security agents attempted to arrest the former governor upon his arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, from Cairo, Egypt.
Adekeye disclosed this in a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle on Thursday, February 12, shortly after the incident.
He said the security operatives approached the former governor as he disembarked from his flight and sought to take him into custody.
According to Adekeye, El-Rufai declined to accompany the agents, insisting that he would not honour the request without a formal invitation.
He further alleged that the security personnel seized the former governor’s passport during the encounter.
“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.
“They, however, snatched his passport from an aide,” the statement read.
Recall that El-Rufai had on Wednesday, February 11, alleged that he could be arrested by the Federal Government if he returned to the country, claiming that recent developments indicate he may be the next target.
The former governor made the allegation during an interview with BBC Hausa, expressing concerns over what he described as growing political intimidation against opposition figures.
El-Rufai, who recently defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), said some of his close associates had already been detained.
He said, “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 stated that he had not yet been arrested, El-Rufai suggested that the arrests of his associates signalled possible action against him.
He further alleged that political pressure was being mounted on politicians to either defect to the APC or remain within the ruling party.
