Legal counsel to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has condemned what he described as an attempted arrest of his client upon arrival in Nigeria from Cairo, warning that legal steps will be taken against those responsible.
Ubong Esop Akpan of Ubong Akpan Chambers criticised the alleged action by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), describing it as unconstitutional and an abuse of due process.
In a statement, Akpan insisted that El-Rufai has no intention of evading law enforcement and would respond to any lawful summons.
“Let it be made clear that Malam Nasir El-Rufai will never take the cowardly route of running away from law enforcement. He will honour, without preconditions, all legitimate summons,” the statement read.
The lawyer further warned that legal action would be pursued against any individuals or agencies involved in what he termed an unlawful attempt to detain the former governor, stressing that the courts remain the proper avenue for resolving such disputes.
According to the statement, the EFCC invitation was delivered to El-Rufai’s residence while he was already outside the country, making any demand for immediate appearance impractical and unreasonable.
Akpan also criticised the reported move by security operatives to arrest his client upon arrival in Abuja, after returning on a flight operated by EgyptAir, describing the action as executive overreach and a violation of constitutional rights.