Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has filed a fresh N10 billion suit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over the alleged denial of access to his wife and son while in custody.
The suit, filed by his lawyer, Ubong Akpan, also joined the ICPC Chairman and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) as the second and third defendants.
The originating motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1852/2026, was filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja on August 13, 2026.
El-Rufai is asking the court to declare that his fundamental rights guaranteed under Part IV of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, remain valid and enforceable despite his detention by the commission.
According to the suit, the former governor alleged that the ICPC repeatedly prevented his wife, Aichatou Asabe, and son, Abba El-Rufai, from visiting him while he was in custody.
He argued that the alleged denial of access deprived him of the opportunity to receive food, medication and other essential items from his family without lawful justification or a court order.
El-Rufai further contended that the alleged actions violated his rights to dignity of the human person and private and family life as guaranteed under Sections 34 and 37 of the Constitution, as well as Articles 5 and 18 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The former governor also alleged that ICPC officers physically restrained and intimidated his wife and son on July 7, describing the incident as unlawful interference with his spousal and filial relationships.
He is therefore asking the court to declare that the alleged treatment constituted a violation of his constitutional rights and that the continued denial of access to his family members without lawful authority was unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.
El-Rufai is seeking nine reliefs from the court, including N10 billion in compensation for the alleged violation of his fundamental rights.
