El-Rufai Names Those Behind Attempted Arrest Following Airport Incident
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has accused National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu of orchestrating the attempt to arrest him at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Thursday, shortly after he returned from Cairo, Egypt.
El-Rufai made the allegation while speaking with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who visited him at his residence that evening to show solidarity.
According to the former governor, operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), working with the Department of State Services (DSS), not the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), confronted him at the airport and attempted to take him into custody.
“It turned out that it’s the ICPC that procured DSS to abduct me and hand me over to them. The ICPC has never invited me.
“We just understand that it’s the ICPC, not EFCC, that’s responsible for what happened today and the ICPC chairman is acting on the direct order of Nuhu Ribadu,” El-Rufai said.
Responding, Atiku expressed sympathy for the former governor and emphasised the need for political unity ahead of the next general election.
The ex-Vice President noted that opposition forces must organise effectively to challenge Bola Tinubu in 2027.
“We must come together and form very viable opposition because Tinubu is determined to turn Nigeria into a one-party state,” Atiku said.
