![Hon. Festus Keyamo SAN arrives MMIA past 11:50 p.m. Feb 23 to lead oversight of Terminal 1 fire. Joined FAAN MD & team actively managing situation. Directed morning inspection Tuesday to guide restoration & confirm safety standards. Reaffirmed focus on passenger safety. Story: [link] #KeyamoMMIA #FireIncident #FAAN](https://fullcliphq.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/mym-150x150.jpg "MMIA Fire: Keyamo Inspects Lagos Airport After Terminal 1 Blaze Disrupts Flights")
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai was involved in a tense confrontation with operatives from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) upon his arrival at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja from Cairo, Egypt, on February 12, 2026.
According to statements from his media adviser Muyiwa Adekeye and eyewitness reports, the agents attempted to take him into custody, but El-Rufai refused to leave without a formal invitation or warrant.
The standoff lasted for some time, with El-Rufai’s supporters and aides intervening to prevent his removal. The EFCC operatives eventually seized his international passport from an aide before allowing him to depart the airport. El-Rufai has since informed the EFCC that he will voluntarily present himself at their Abuja office on Monday, February 16, 2026, to address ongoing investigations related to his time as governor from 2015 to 2023.
The probes reportedly focus on allegations of financial irregularities, including claims of unaccounted funds amounting to around N10 billion and other corruption-related matters during his administration. El-Rufai’s team has characterized the airport incident as politically motivated harassment, consistent with earlier warnings he made about potential arrest upon return.
El-Rufai’s Prior Warnings and Political Shift
On February 11, 2026, El-Rufai publicly stated in interviews (including with BBC Hausa) that he anticipated arrest and detention upon arrival, citing the recent arrests of approximately four close associates from his Kaduna administration as part of a pattern. He framed these developments as inconsistent with constitutional protections and potentially linked to his move into opposition politics.
El-Rufai, born February 16, 1960, has had a long and prominent career in Nigerian public life. He served as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory from 2003 to 2007 under President Olusegun Obasanjo, where he led aggressive urban renewal efforts in Abuja that were often controversial for displacing informal settlements. He later became Governor of Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023 under the All Progressives Congress (APC), implementing reforms in education, infrastructure, and security while facing criticism over his handling of ethno-religious conflicts, mass dismissals of teachers, and accusations of high-handed governance.
Initially a key APC figure and supporter of President Bola Tinubu’s 2023 election bid, El-Rufai withdrew acceptance of a ministerial role in 2023 after Senate confirmation challenges (related to security clearance issues). He formally resigned from the APC in early 2025, briefly joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and later aligned with the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), where he has become a prominent critic of the Tinubu administration.
Since his defection, El-Rufai has sharpened his anti-establishment rhetoric, describing the current APC-led government as “incompetent” and warning that continued rule beyond 2027 could jeopardize Nigeria’s stability. He has stated there was never true friendship with Tinubu, calling their philosophies incompatible, and accused the administration of rewarding a select Lagos-based group while sidelining contributors. In public remarks, he predicted the APC “will be gone” by 2027.
Previous Security Encounters
El-Rufai has a history of tense interactions with state security tied to political activities. In November 2013, during the Anambra State governorship election, he was confined to his hotel room in Awka by State Security Service (SSS, now DSS) operatives while attempting to observe the poll. He described being prevented from leaving by armed agents and later filed a lawsuit against the SSS and Attorney-General over what he termed unlawful detention.
The February 12, 2026, airport incident fits this pattern of high-profile confrontations, raising speculation about political targeting as El-Rufai positions himself in the opposition ahead of future elections. As of now, he remains active in political mobilization, including coalition-building efforts, while the EFCC investigation continues without confirmed charges filed.
