Odua People's Assembly Defends NSA Ribadu, Slams El-Rufai's 'Baseless' Arrest Claims as Misleading"

 

The defense comes amid recent tensions involving el-Rufai, including an alleged attempted arrest by security operatives (reportedly from the Department of State Services, DSS) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on February 13, 2026. El-Rufai's legal team condemned the incident as unlawful, claiming no warrant was presented, and that his international passport was seized without due process. El-Rufai has accused Ribadu of personally ordering his detention and claimed access to intercepted communications from the NSA directing security agencies.

Separately, in an earlier interview with DCL Hausa (around February 11-12, 2026), el-Rufai alleged that Ribadu routinely directs agencies like the EFCC to make arrests without proper investigation and influences judicial decisions on bail. He emphasized that such actions exceed the NSA's mandate.

OPA's Position

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Richard Olatunji Kayode (also referred to as Richard Kayode in some reports), the OPA described el-Rufai's remarks as unfounded and dangerous. Key points from their rebuttal include:

The NSA lacks constitutional authority to unilaterally order arrests, direct agencies like the EFCC, or interfere in judicial processes (e.g., bail decisions).

Such allegations are "not only unfounded but also dangerously misleading."

Public statements like el-Rufai's could undermine trust in national security institutions.

The group framed its intervention as a clarification of institutional roles rather than a direct comment on the airport incident itself.

This development highlights ongoing political friction, with el-Rufai positioning himself as a critic of perceived executive overreach, while groups like the OPA rally in support of the current administration's security leadership. Other voices, including activist lawyer Deji Adeyanju, have suggested the airport episode may involve passport seizure rather than a full arrest attempt, and some describe it as "karma" rather than persecution.