Tensions flared at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) headquarters in Abuja on Monday as Nasir El-Rufai arrived to honour an invitation from the anti-graft agency. Crowds of protesters gathered outside the Jabi office, with some showing support for El-Rufai while others demanded that the commission thoroughly investigate him.
A brief drama unfolded when some of El-Rufai’s aides were prevented from entering the EFCC premises, heightening the tense atmosphere. The former governor’s appearance comes days after an attempted arrest at Abuja airport on Thursday, which his legal team described as “premeditated and unlawful.”
Ubong Esop Akpan, counsel to El-Rufai, explained that the EFCC invitation had initially been delivered while the former governor was overseas. “It was inherently unreasonable to demand immediate attendance from someone outside the jurisdiction. Such an approach undermines legal fairness and procedural integrity,” Akpan said.
The lawyer added that all communications with the EFCC had assured voluntary compliance upon El-Rufai’s return. “We formally notified the commission in December 2025 and reiterated yesterday that he would appear at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 16, 2026. Attempting his arrest despite this clear commitment is arbitrary and a violation of constitutional protections,” he said.
Akpan demanded the immediate cessation of any unlawful detention efforts, the return of El-Rufai’s passport, and a formal apology for the infringement on his rights and dignity.
El-Rufai, a former minister and once-close ally of the current administration, has faced increased scrutiny in recent weeks. His critics accuse him of stoking political tension, while he maintains that his interventions are in the public interest, including queries about the alleged procurement of the toxic chemical thallium sulphate by the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Monday’s events at EFCC mark a tense chapter in Nigeria’s ongoing anti-corruption efforts, highlighting the clash between high-profile political figures and the nation’s top anti-graft institutions.
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