The recap of top 10 key latest stories that you might have missed this Thursday evening, 12th February, 2026
Security agents attempted to arrest El-Rufai at Abuja airport — Aide
Security agents on Thursday allegedly attempted to arrest former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, upon his arrival at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, from Cairo, Egypt.
The claim was made by El-Rufai’s Media Adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, in a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle shortly after the incident.
According to Adekeye, the operatives approached the former governor as he disembarked from his flight and sought to take him into custody.
He said El-Rufai declined to accompany the agents, insisting that he would not honour the request without a formal invitation.
The statement read, “Security agents today attempted to arrest Malam Nasir El-Rufai as he arrived on a flight from Cairo.
Malam El-Rufai declined to follow them without a formal invitation.
Nigeria must outgrow executive overreach, El-Rufai speaks on airport incident
A former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has condemned what he described as an illegal attempt by security operatives to arrest him at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, following his arrival from Cairo, Egypt.
El-Rufai made this known in a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle on Thursday, where he accused authorities of executive overreach and disregard for the rule of law.
“My lawyers have issued a statement that condemns the illegal attempt to arrest me today at the Abuja airport upon my arrival from Cairo,” El-Rufai wrote.
“Our country must outgrow executive overreach and deliberate disregard for the rule of law,” he added.
The security agents had moved to detain the former governor shortly after he landed in Abuja.
According to a post by his media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, the operatives approached El-Rufai at the airport and attempted to take him into custody without presenting a formal invitation or warrant.
Security agents tried to arrest El-Rufai without warrant, seized passport — Lawyer
Counsel to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has accused security operatives of attempting to unlawfully arrest his client on Thursday afternoon upon his arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, from Cairo, Egypt.
In a statement dated February 12, 2026, and signed by Ubong Akpan of the Chambers of Ubong Akpan, the lawyer said operatives moved against El-Rufai shortly after he landed aboard Egypt Air flight MS 877 from Cairo.
Akpan said,
“We unequivocally condemn the attempted illegal arrest of our client by security operatives this afternoon upon his arrival in Abuja.
This is a flagrant violation of constitutional rights, executive overreach, and a deliberate disregard for the rule of law.”
According to the lawyer, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had earlier sent an invitation to El-Rufai while he was already outside the country, describing the move as unreasonable and impractical.
Man dies, wife injured as truck crushes car in Lagos
A motorist was killed on Thursday morning while his wife was critically injured after a granite-laden truck toppled onto their Toyota saloon car at Eleko Junction along the Lekki–Ajah Expressway, Lagos State.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq.
“Preliminary security briefings reveal that an articulated truck, heavily burdened with granite and travelling at an inordinate speed from the Epe axis, was approaching Eleko Junction when it reportedly experienced a catastrophic brake malfunction.
“The mechanical failure precipitated an abrupt loss of vehicular control, causing the truck to career off its designated path and collide forcefully with a Toyota saloon car travelling from Ajah inward Epe,” the statement partly read.
Ex-Abia SSG faults varsity council for moving VC interview to Abuja
A former Secretary to the Abia State Government, Dr Eme Okoro, has criticised the decision of the Governing Council of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, to relocate the interview for the institution’s 7th Vice-Chancellor from the university campus to Abuja.
The decision, approved by the Chairman of the Governing Council, Fidelis Edeh, was conveyed in a statement issued on Wednesday, which gave candidates one week to prepare for the trip to the Federal Capital Territory.
The move has sparked reactions among stakeholders, amid estimates that over N50m could be spent on logistics for more than 40 council members and management staff if the exercise is held in Abuja.
Reacting to the development in an interview with PUNCH Online on Wednesday, Okoro described the relocation as unnecessary and capable of sending the wrong signal about the security situation in Abia State.
Makinde pledges support to end gender-based violence
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Thursday reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting advocacy against gender-based violence.
He made the declaration while receiving representatives of the Nigerian Governors’ Spouses Forum, in partnership with the Ford Foundation, led by his wife, Tamunominini Makinde, who paid a courtesy visit to his office.
This was contained in a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media, Sulaimon Olarenwaju, in Ibadan, the state capital.
Makinde said his administration would provide political leadership, budgetary support, and executive backing for laws aimed at preventing GBV.
Speaking during the visit themed “Advocacy for Prevention: Shifting Social Norms and Strengthening State Commitment to End Gender-Based Violence,” the governor assured his guests that his administration would work with the state House of Assembly to ensure adequate budgetary allocations for GBV prevention and response mechanisms.
Judge recuses self from EFCC’s cases against Malami
Justice Obiora Egwuatu, on Thursday, recused (withdrew) himself from the two cases filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Mr Abubakar Malami, former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
The development occured shortly after the civil suit for forfeiture of 57 property allegedly linked to Malami was called for mention.
The development occured shortly after the civil suit for forfeiture of 57 property allegedly linked to Malami was called for mentionThe News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the cases were former before Justice Emeka Nwite, who sat as vacation judge during the Christmas break.
Benue: Kidnappers demand N100m for abducted church worshippers
Tension is mounting in Ojije community, Utonkon, in Ado Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State, as abductors of nine Catholic worshippers have opened negotiations with families, demanding millions of Naira for their release.
Recall that the victims were kidnapped in the early hours of Sunday, February 8, 2026, when armed men stormed St John’s Catholic Church in Ojije during a night vigil.
The attackers reportedly struck at about 2am, seizing children, women, and youths who had gathered for prayers.
Army university Professor dies in Boko Haram captivityProfessor Abubakar Mohammed El-Jummah, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology at the Nigerian Army University, Biu, Borno State, has died while in the custody of Boko Haram militants, nearly a year after his abduction.
Professor El-Jummah was kidnapped on March 3, 2025, along the troubled Damaturu–Buni Yadi–Biu road.
He reportedly remained in captivity until falling ill and succumbing to his condition.The news of his death was communicated to his family in Maiduguri on Wednesday, February 11, 2026.
In response, a Salatul Ga’ib (funeral prayer in absentia) was held on Thursday, February 12, at the Ngomari Old Airport Juma’at Mosque, near his residence in Maiduguri.
APC Think-Tank to review Tinubu’s three-year performanceThe policy think-tank of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), The Progressives Institute (TPI), has announced plans to conduct a three-year performance review of President Bola Tinubu, saying it is time to critically assess the gains of the administration’s multi-sectoral reforms.
Speaking on Thursday during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between TPI and Jade & Jaydens Services Limited, which will support the upcoming three-day Midterm Sectoral Review of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, TPI Director-General Dr. Lanre Adebayo lauded the president’s economic measures.
2Baba, Natasha dedicate first child in church ceremony
Veteran Nigerian singer Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba, and his wife, Edo State lawmaker Natasha Osawaru, have dedicated their child in a church ceremony attended by family members.
A video that surfaced online on Thursday showed the couple presenting their newborn during the dedication service.
In the footage, 2Baba and Osawaru were seen dancing joyfully toward the altar while carrying the baby, as relatives followed behind clapping and celebrating.
The ceremony comes about three months after the couple welcomed their first child together in November 2025.
News of the birth initially emerged in November after a Facebook page bearing Osawaru’s name announced the arrival of a baby boy.
