Breaking: Protest Greets El-Rufai as He Arrives at EFCC Headquarters

By: Israel Adeleke

OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports as gathered that there is protest at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja as former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, arrives to honour an invitation from the anti-graft agency.

OTN News further reports as gathered that groups of protesters converged on the EFCC office in Jabi, Abuja, ahead of El-Rufai’s appearance, with demonstrators holding divergent views. 

While some protesters staged a show of support for the former governor, others called on the commission to thoroughly investigate and “grill” him over allegations yet to be made public.

Tension briefly flared when some individuals who accompanied El-Rufai were denied access into the EFCC premises, resulting in mild drama at the entrance of the commission’s headquarters.

El-Rufai’s appearance follows an earlier failed attempt by operatives of the EFCC to arrest him at the Abuja airport on Thursday, an action that sparked public debate and criticism from his legal team. 

His counsel, Ubong Esop Akpan, had earlier confirmed that the former governor would honour the invitation voluntarily.

Akpan explained that the EFCC’s invitation was delivered to El-Rufai’s residence while he was outside the country, making any demand for immediate appearance impractical. 

According to him, the legal team formally communicated with the commission from December 2025, assuring that El-Rufai would present himself upon his return to Nigeria.

“Yesterday, we explicitly notified them that he would voluntarily appear at their office by 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 16, 2026, specifying the precise place and time for addressing the invitation,” Akpan said. 

He described the attempted arrest at the airport as arbitrary and a violation of due process.

The lawyer further argued that there was no legal basis for the attempted arrest, describing it as an infringement on El-Rufai’s constitutional rights and fundamental freedoms. 

He said the former governor returned to the country after medical treatment and rest abroad, despite prior intelligence of plans to arrest him, in order to demonstrate his willingness to cooperate with any legitimate investigation.

“This premeditated interception at the airport exemplifies lawlessness and an abuse of state power,” Akpan added.

He also demanded the immediate return of El-Rufai’s passport, an end to what he described as unlawful efforts to detain him, and a formal apology for the alleged violation of his dignity and rights.

As of the time of filing this report, the EFCC has yet to issue an official statement on the protest, the earlier attempted arrest, or the nature of the allegations prompting the invitation. 

OTN News, however, observes that the development continues to attract public attention as supporters and critics closely monitor the unfolding events at the commission’s headquarters.