Public Intervention Thwarts Arrest Attempt of Former Kaduna Governor El-Rufai
A public intervention prevented the arrest of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Friday, an act a senior opposition figure has framed as a direct public rebuke of the federal government.
Ladan Salihu, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), stated that the bystanders’ actions represent a clear warning to the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration. Salihu was speaking in an interview with Trust TV.
“The fact that El-Rufai’s arrest was thwarted by Nigerians or bystanders at the airport is sending early warning signs to the APC-led government,” Salihu said. He asserted that the incident signals a declining public tolerance for what he described as “imprisonment, high handedness and wanton disregard for the right of the individual.”
According to Salihu, members of the public formed a barricade to shield El-Rufai from law enforcement agents. He cautioned that Nigeria must not reach a point where citizens feel compelled to take security into their own hands.
El-Rufai, a prominent former governor and key APC figure, has been subject to multiple legal proceedings since leaving office in May 2023. He faces charges related to alleged procurement violations and abuse of office during his tenure, brought by various federal agencies. His legal team has consistently denied any wrongdoing, describing the charges as politically motivated persecution.
The attempted arrest at the airport highlights the deepening political tensions in Nigeria. Salihu’s interpretation positions the spontaneous public action as a broader grassroots reaction against perceived state overreach. The incident raises questions about the rule of law, political accountability, and the potential for public disorder amid high-profile legal battles against former officials.
The federal government and security agencies have not issued a statement on the specific airport incident. The event underscores the volatile intersection of Nigeria’s legal processes and its charged political landscape, suggesting a heightened risk of confrontation when state actions against powerful figures are perceived as partisan. The situation calls for careful observation of how future legal procedures involving high-profile politicians are managed.
