Security operatives allegedly attempted to arrest former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, upon his arrival from Cairo, Egypt.
El-Rufai’s Media Adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, who disclosed this in a statement, claimed the operatives approached him and tried to take him into custody, but he refused without a formal invitation.
They allegedly seized his passport from an aide.
The statement reads: “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,” he added.
Moreover, this incident follows El-Rufai’s claim on Wednesday that he might be arrested, citing increasing political intimidation against opposition figures.
He recently defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and has intensified criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
El-Rufai’s associates have also been arrested, and he also said that political pressure is being applied to force politicians to defect to the APC.
The Nigerian Immigration Service and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria are yet to respond officially to the development.
