Malam Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, is set to appear before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday morning, according to his counsel, Ubong Esop Akpan. This development comes after El-Rufai was approached by security operatives at the Abuja airport on Thursday upon his return from Cairo via Egypt Air flight MS 877. Akpan has described the attempt to arrest El-Rufai as a 'flagrant violation of constitutional rights' and an 'executive overreach', asserting that the invitation from the EFCC was delivered to El-Rufai's residence while he was abroad, making it impractical to demand immediate attendance. The counsel further emphasized that El-Rufai had communicated with the EFCC since December 2025, assuring compliance upon his return, and had explicitly notified them of his voluntary appearance on Monday. Despite this, the attempt to arrest El-Rufai at the airport is seen as an 'arbitrary conduct' and an 'abuse of state power'. Akpan also highlighted that there was no justifiable basis for the attempted arrest, which 'infringes upon key constitutional provisions guaranteeing fundamental freedoms'. The situation has sparked a demand for the immediate and unconditional cessation of all unlawful efforts to detain El-Rufai, the return of his stolen passport, and a formal apology for the infringement on his dignity and rights. This controversy raises important questions about the balance between executive power and constitutional rights, and invites discussion on the appropriate procedures for handling such situations. What do you think about this development? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
