El-Rufai files ₦10bn lawsuit against ICPC

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has instituted a ₦10 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), alleging that the agency barred his family from visiting him in custody.

The lawsuit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1852/2026 and filed on August 13 by his counsel, Ubong Akpan, also joins the ICPC Chairman and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) as co-defendants.

In the originating motion, the former governor seeks nine principal declarations and reliefs from the Federal High Court in Abuja.

He contends that his fundamental rights under Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Articles 5 and 18 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights remain intact despite his detention.

He argues that preventing his wife, Aichatou Asabe, and son, Abba El-Rufai, from delivering food, medication, and clothing constitutes an unlawful breach of his right to human dignity and private/family life under Sections 34 and 37 of the Constitution.

El-Rufai is also requesting an order compelling the respondents to grant him unrestricted, reasonable access to his family and legal team throughout his detention, as well as a declaration that the alleged harassment and physical restraint of his relatives on July 7 was unlawful, null, and void.

According to a supporting affidavit deposed by Mohammed Shaba, Principal Secretary to the former governor, Asabe had regularly supplied El-Rufai with meals, medical supplies, and personal items following established visitation guidelines until ICPC officials halted visits on July 7 without lawful justification.

Shaba noted that Justice R. M. Aikawa of the Federal High Court, Kaduna Division (in suit FHC/KD/73C/2025), had previously ordered the ICPC on April 1 to ensure the defendant had continuous access to his legal representatives and personal physicians.

The filing emphasizes that under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, detainees are legally protected from incommunicado detention and retain the right to humane conditions, adequate sustenance, and regular family visits.