Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has confirmed that he will appear before the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
El-Rufai made the announcement on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Friday, a day after he described an attempted arrest at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
“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 be attending the ICPC office on Wednesday, 18 February 2026,” he stated.
The incident at the airport on Thursday reportedly involved security operatives attempting to detain the former governor upon his arrival from Cairo, Egypt. According to his media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, the agents tried to take El-Rufai into custody without presenting a formal invitation and temporarily seized his international passport.
El-Rufai’s lawyer, Ubong Akpan, condemned the action, calling it unlawful and a violation of constitutional rights. He emphasized that while El-Rufai is willing to cooperate with lawful processes, all procedures must follow due process.
Akpan also noted that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had previously invited El-Rufai while he was abroad, and his team had confirmed he would appear voluntarily upon returning to Nigeria. “The invitation from the EFCC was delivered to Malam El-Rufai’s residence while he was abroad. We informed the EFCC that he would appear at their office by 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 16, 2026,” he added.
