El-Rufai Files Fresh N10 Billion Suit Against ICPC Over Denied Family Access

A Second Suit This Year

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has instituted a N10 billion fundamental rights suit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, marking his second major legal action against the anti-graft agency in 2026. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1852/2026, was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on August 13 through his lawyer, Ubong Akpan. The ICPC and its Chairman, Musa Aliyu, were named as first and second defendants, while the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, was joined as third defendant. Earlier this year, in February, El-Rufai filed a separate N1 billion suit challenging the validity of a search warrant used to raid his Abuja residence.

Allegations of Physical Restraint

In the fresh suit, El-Rufai alleged that ICPC officers physically restrained and intimidated his wife, Aichatou Asabe, and his son, Abba El-Rufai, when they attempted to visit him on July 7. He claimed the repeated denial of access prevented his family from bringing him food, medication and other essential supplies while he remained in detention. His legal team argued that this conduct amounted to an unjustifiable interference with his dignity and family life, describing it as unconstitutional under Sections 34 and 37 of the 1999 Constitution, as well as under Articles 5 and 18 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.

Reliefs Sought

Among the nine reliefs sought, El-Rufai is asking the court to declare that his fundamental rights remain enforceable notwithstanding his detention, and that the continued denial of family access without lawful justification is illegal and void. He has also asked the court to direct the respondents to grant him unhindered and reasonable access to his family and legal counsel throughout his detention, consistent with an earlier court directive. El-Rufai is currently standing trial before the Federal High Court in Kaduna on charges including abuse of office and financial impropriety allegedly committed during his tenure as governor. The matter has not yet been assigned a hearing date at the time of this report