Nasir El-Rufai, former Kaduna state governor on Thursday night accused the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of orchestrating the attempt to arrest him at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
He made the allegation while receiving former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who paid him a solidarity visit after the incident.
El-Rufai alleged that the ICPC chairman acted on the orders of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
‘ICPC, Not EFCC’
El-Rufai said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had formally invited him for questioning.
“EFCC has written to invite me but I was out of the country,” he said.
“I said that when I return, I will be there on Monday.”
He maintained that the ICPC never invited him.
“We understand that it was ICPC, not the EFCC, that was responsible,” he added.
“ICPC chairman was acting on the orders of the NSA, Nuhu Ribadu.”
He accused security agencies of serving partisan interests.
“We have reduced security agencies to be arms of a political party and government that knows it is unelectable but wants to remain in power at all cost,” he said.
Push for Opposition Unity
El-Rufai said the airport incident strengthened his resolve ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Your Excellency, I assure you that what has happened to me today has further reinforced my belief that we must work between now and March 2027,” he said.
He urged leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to unite and offer Nigerians what he called a credible alternative.
“They mouth democracy but have never believed in it,” he added.
He expressed confidence that with Atiku’s leadership and support from other opposition figures, the All Progressives Congress (APC) would lose power.
Atiku’s Response
Atiku also addressed the gathering.
“We must come together and form a very viable opposition because Tinubu is determined to turn Nigeria into a one-party system,” he said.
The visit followed Wednesday’s alleged attempt by security operatives to arrest El-Rufai after he returned from Cairo, Egypt, where he had travelled for vacation.
As of press time, the ICPC and the Office of the National Security Adviser had not responded to the allegations.
