Security operatives who tried to arrest me were acting on the direct order of Nuhu Ribadu – El-Rufai tells Atiku

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has accused the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, of being behind the attempt to arrest him at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja shortly after he returned from Cairo, Egypt.

El-Rufai made the allegation during a meeting with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who visited him at his residence on Thursday night, February 12, in a show of solidarity following the airport incident.

According to El-Rufai, operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), working alongside the Department of State Services (DSS), confronted him at the airport and attempted to take him into custody. He said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was not involved.

“It turned out that it’s the ICPC that procured DSS to abduct me and hades 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.

He maintained that he had not received any prior invitation from the ICPC and questioned the basis for the attempted arrest.

In his response, Atiku expressed sympathy for El-Rufai and emphasized the need for political cooperation among opposition figures ahead of the 2027 general election. “We must come together and form very viable opposition because Tinubu is determined to turn Nigeria into a one party state,” Atiku said.

The development comes amid growing political tension as preparations gradually begin for the next electoral cycle.