Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has filed a N10 billion lawsuit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over allegations that his wife and children were denied access to him during his detention.
The suit was instituted at the Federal High Court in Abuja through his lawyer, Ubong Akpan, under case number FHC/ABJ/CS/1852/2026.
In the lawsuit filed on August 13, El-Rufai also joined Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), and Musa Aliyu, Chairman of the ICPC, as second and third defendants.
Among the nine reliefs sought, the former governor is asking the court to declare that his fundamental human rights under Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution remain active and applicable despite his detention.
He claimed that the ICPC frequently stopped his son, Abba el-Rufai, and wife, Aichatou Asabe, from coming to see him and giving him food, medicine, and other essentials.
The former governor claimed that the purported denial infringed his rights to privacy, family life, and dignity, which are protected by articles 5 and 18 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights as well as sections 34 and 37 of the constitution.
El-Rufai sues ICPC, alleges violation of family rights
Furthermore, El-Rufai asked the court to declare that the physical restraint, intimidation, and harsh treatment his wife and son reportedly experienced from ICPC officials on July 7 amounted to a violation of his fundamental rights.
He maintained that the commission’s persistent refusal to allow his family access was illegal, unconstitutional, null, and void.
In line with an earlier ruling by the Federal High Court, the former governor is seeking an injunction requiring the respondents to grant him “unhindered and reasonable access” to his family and legal representatives throughout his detention.
El-Rufai alleged that the ICPC prevented his wife and son from visiting him without justification, despite the court order permitting access to his family and lawyers.
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Backstory…
The latest lawsuit is another escalation in the legal battle between former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which has been investigating him over alleged financial misconduct.
The former governor’s latest action follows an earlier legal challenge against the anti-graft agency. In February, El-Rufai sued the ICPC for ₦1 billion, challenging the legality of a search of his Abuja residence and alleging that the operation violated his constitutional rights.
He asked the court to declare the search warrant invalid and prevent the commission from relying on evidence allegedly obtained during the search.
