From Victor Osula, Abuja
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Monday honoured an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for questioning, days after a controversial attempt to arrest him at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
El-Rufai’s lawyer, Ubong Esop Akpan, confirmed that the former governor appeared before the EFCC by 10:00 a.m., following reports that security operatives had sought to detain him shortly after his return from Cairo, Egypt, last Thursday.
During the airport incident, El-Rufai declined to accompany the operatives, insisting he had not received a formal invitation.
His arrival at the EFCC headquarters in Jabi, Abuja, drew both supporters and critics. Demonstrators were divided, with some showing solidarity with the former governor, while others demanded a thorough investigation.
Witnesses described a tense but largely peaceful atmosphere, with mild drama reported when security personnel stopped some members of El-Rufai’s entourage from entering the commission’s premises.
The former governor, who governed Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023, has remained a prominent figure in national politics.
He has previously described investigations involving some of his former aides as politically motivated by the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
In a related development, El-Rufai has also formally notified the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of his readiness to honour its invitation.
The ICPC had directed him to appear at its Abuja headquarters by 10:00 a.m. on February 13, 2026, over matters yet to be publicly disclosed.
However, in a letter signed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Wole Iyamu, El-Rufai’s legal team explained that the invitation was received at about 4:30 p.m. on February 12, making it impossible for their client to meet the timeline.
The lawyers proposed February 18, 2026, or any other mutually convenient date, stressing that El-Rufai “remains fully committed to cooperating with any lawful investigation and has never, at any time, sought to evade legitimate inquiry.”
The former governor has alleged that the attempted airport arrest was orchestrated on the orders of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, with involvement from Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani and the ICPC chairman, although no official responses have been issued by the parties named
