Nasir El-Rufai accuses NSA Nuhu Ribadu of orchestrating airport arrest attempt via ICPC and DSS after returning from Cairo

Nasir El-Rufai has accused Nuhu Ribadu of orchestrating an attempted arrest at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Thursday, shortly after his return from Cairo, Egypt.

Also read: Security Agents Attempt to Arrest Ex-Governor El-Rufai

Speaking with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who visited him in solidarity, El-Rufai alleged that operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), working with the Department of State Services (DSS), confronted him at the airport, not the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as previously assumed.

“It turned out that it’s the ICPC that procured DSS to abduct me and hand me over to them. The ICPC has never invited me,” El-Rufai said.

He added that the ICPC chairman acted on direct orders from NSA Ribadu.

Atiku Abubakar expressed sympathy with El-Rufai and stressed the importance of political unity ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“We must come together and form very viable opposition because Tinubu is determined to turn Nigeria into a one-party state,” the ex-Vice President said, referring to President Bola Tinubu.

Also read: El-Rufai addresses presidential ambition, rules out joining PDP

The incident has heightened political tensions as opposition leaders discuss strategies to consolidate forces in advance of the next election cycle.