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<p>By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa</p><div class="FkUFPdmp" style="clear:both;float:left;width:100%;margin:0 0 20px 0;"><script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>

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<p>The legal team of former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, on Thursday condemned what it described as an unlawful attempt by security operatives to arrest their client upon his arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.</p>
<p>In a statement issued in Abuja and signed by Ubong Esop Akpan of The Chambers of Ubong Akpan, counsel to El-Rufai, the lawyers alleged that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) attempted to arrest the former governor without presenting a warrant or formal invitation.</p><div class="tPHeXhqN" style="clear:both;float:left;width:100%;margin:0 0 20px 0;"><script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>

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<p>According to the statement, El-Rufai arrived in Abuja aboard Egypt Air flight MS 877 from Cairo when security agents moved to detain him.</p>
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<p>The legal team argued that the invitation earlier issued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was delivered to El-Rufai’s residence while he was out of the country, describing any demand for immediate appearance as “illogical and impractical.”</p>
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<p>The lawyers said they had formally communicated with the EFCC since December 2025, assuring the Commission that El-Rufai would honour the invitation upon his return. They further stated that the EFCC was notified that he would voluntarilyx appear at its office by 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 16, 2026.</p>
<p>They described the alleged attempt to arrest him despite this commitment as arbitrary and a violation of due process.</p>
<p>The statement further alleged that security operatives seized El-Rufai’s international passport during the encounter, an action the legal team characterised as unlawful.</p>
<p>Citing provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the lawyers contended that the attempted arrest breached their client’s fundamental rights, including the right to personal liberty, fair hearing, dignity of the human person, freedom of movement and right to own property.</p>
<p>“No government agency possesses unfettered authority to detain citizens without due process,” the statement read, adding that all state institutions are bound by constitutional safeguards.</p>
<p>The legal team demanded the “immediate and unconditional cessation” of any attempt to detain El-Rufai, the return of his passport, and a formal apology for what it termed an infringement on his rights and dignity.</p>
<p>It also maintained that the former governor would honour all legitimate law enforcement summons and would not evade lawful investigation.</p>
<p>The lawyers warned that legal action would be pursued against individuals and agencies allegedly responsible for the incident, stressing that the judiciary remains the proper avenue for resolving the matter.</p>
<p>As of press time, there was no official response from the DSS or the EFCC regarding the allegations.</p>
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