El-Rufai Sues ICPC, Seeks N10bn Over Alleged Denial of Family Access

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, has filed a N10 billion suit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), alleging that the agency denied his wife and son access to him while in custody.

El-Rufai filed the suit through his lawyer, Ubong Akpan, before the Federal High Court in Abuja. He joined ICPC Chairman Musa Aliyu and Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, as the second and third defendants.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1852/2026, was filed on August 13 and seeks nine reliefs, including a declaration that his fundamental rights under Part IV of the 1999 Constitution remain applicable despite his detention.

The former governor alleged that ICPC officers repeatedly prevented his wife, Aichatou Asabe, and son, Abba el-Rufai, from visiting him and providing food, medication and other necessities.

He argued that the alleged denial violated his constitutional rights to dignity and private and family life under Sections 34 and 37 of the Constitution, as well as Articles 5 and 18 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

El-Rufai also alleged that ICPC officers physically restrained and intimidated his wife and son during an incident on July 7. He asked the court to declare the alleged treatment a violation of his fundamental rights.

The former governor is seeking an order compelling the respondents to grant him “unhindered and reasonable access” to his family and lawyers throughout his detention, in accordance with an earlier court order.

He alleged that despite the existing order permitting access to family members and counsel, ICPC officials prevented his wife and son from seeing him without justification.

According to El-Rufai, the alleged actions subjected him to humiliation, emotional trauma, anxiety and psychological distress.

In an affidavit supporting the suit, Mohammed Shaba, El-Rufai’s principal secretary, said the former governor was being detained at the ICPC office in Abuja.

Shaba said Asabe had regularly provided her husband with food, clothing, medication and other personal necessities since his detention.

He also referred to an April 1 order by the Federal High Court in Kaduna directing the ICPC to allow defendants access to their lawyers and personal physicians whenever required.

Shaba argued that the order reinforced the principle that detainees should not be held incommunicado and that detention conditions remain subject to judicial oversight.

He maintained that El-Rufai retained his fundamental rights under the Constitution and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, including humane treatment and reasonable family access.