ICPC summons El-Rufai after airport standoff

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has confirmed that he will honour an invitation from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) following a recent confrontation with security operatives at the airport in Abuja.

El-Rufai disclosed this in a post on X on Friday, stating that he would appear at the commission’s office on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.

According to him, the invitation letter was delivered shortly after what he described as a failed attempt to abduct him.

“Yesterday, after the futile attempt to abduct me, the ICPC delivered a letter inviting me to their office. My lawyer has written to confirm that I will attend on Wednesday,” he wrote.

The development comes amid controversy over a Thursday incident at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, where security operatives allegedly tried to detain the former governor upon his arrival from Cairo.

El-Rufai’s media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, claimed the operatives attempted to arrest him without presenting a formal invitation and temporarily seized his international passport.

His lawyer, Ubong Akpan, also criticised the action, describing it as unlawful and a breach of due process.

He maintained that El-Rufai is willing to cooperate with lawful investigations but insisted that proper procedures must be followed.

Akpan further revealed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had earlier invited the former governor while he was abroad, adding that his team had already notified the agency of his readiness to appear voluntarily upon his return.

The situation has sparked fresh debate over the circumstances surrounding the airport encounter, as both investigations and official engagements with the anti-graft agencies continue.