A dramatic political feud has erupted in Nigeria's capital after former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, publicly accused the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, of ordering his arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
The incident occurred on Thursday when security operatives attempted to detain the former governor, sparking a heated confrontation. Witnesses reported that a crowd of El-Rufai's supporters quickly surrounded him, physically preventing the security agents from carrying out the arrest.
Speaking on Arise Television on Friday, El-Rufai detailed the alleged plot against him. He claimed to have concrete evidence of Ribadu's involvement through an intercepted telephone conversation.
"The NSA's call was tapped. They do that to our calls too, and we heard him saying they should arrest me," El-Rufai stated during the interview.
The former governor went further, alleging a broader conspiracy involving his successor and a top anti-graft official. "Let me tell you, Kaduna Governor Uba Sani, the NSA and the ICPC chairman have arranged that I get abducted unfailingly today," he asserted.
In a post on his X handle, El-Rufai revealed that following the failed arrest attempt, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) delivered an invitation letter to him. "Yesterday (Thursday), after the futile attempt to abduct me, the ICPC delivered a letter to invite me to their office," he wrote, adding that his lawyer has confirmed he would honor the invitation on Wednesday, 18 February 2026.
El-Rufai also confirmed during the television interview that he would appear before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday for questioning. He maintained his innocence regarding his eight-year tenure as governor, stating he has "nothing to hide."
In other remarks, El-Rufai dismissed moves by some United States lawmakers to sanction former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso over alleged terrorism links as politically motivated. He argued that if Sharia law implementation in northern Nigeria were to be scrutinized, attention should focus on Zamfara State under former Governor Ahmed Yerima, where it was first introduced.
However, the former governor's claims have drawn sharp criticism from presidential aides. Temitope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, expressed concern over El-Rufai's admission of tapping the NSA's phone. "El-Rufai admitted on a national television that someone tapped the phone of the NSA for him to listen to his conversation. When the interviewer interjected that that was an illegal action, El-Rufai agreed to the illegality," Ajayi wrote on Facebook.
Ajayi suggested that the former governor would likely cry persecution if questioned about the illegal phone tapping. As of press time, the NSA's office and the ICPC had not issued official responses to El-Rufai's allegations.
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