El-Rufai Files N10bn Suit Against ICPC Over Family Access

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has filed a fresh N10bn fundamental rights suit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission over alleged denial of access to his wife and son while he remains in custody.

The case was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on August 13 and is marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1852/2026. It adds a new legal front to the dispute over El-Rufai’s detention, after his family earlier accused the agency of blocking access to food and medical care.

In the new filing, El-Rufai, through his lawyer Ubong Akpan, named the ICPC, the ICPC chairman and the Attorney-General of the Federation as respondents. He alleged that the agency prevented his wife, Aichatou Asabe, and his son, Abba El-Rufai, from visiting him.

He is asking the court for nine reliefs, including declarations that his rights remain enforceable despite his detention. The suit says repeated refusal of family access, especially for food, medication and other necessities, violates sections 34 and 37 of the Constitution and provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

The former governor also alleged that ICPC officers restrained and intimidated his wife and son on July 7. He asked the court to order the respondents to grant him reasonable access to family members and counsel while he remains in custody.

Daily Trust reported that the originating motion was sighted on Sunday by the News Agency of Nigeria. Punch also reported the same filing and reliefs sought in the Abuja court.

Sources: Punch, Daily Trust