Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has filed a fresh N10 billion lawsuit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), accusing the agency of denying him access to his wife and son while in custody.
The suit, filed by his lawyer, Ubong Akpan, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, also names the ICPC chairman and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) as defendants.
The originating motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1852/2026, asks the court to uphold El-Rufai’s fundamental rights under Part IV of the 1999 Constitution despite his detention.
According to the former governor, ICPC officials repeatedly prevented his wife, Aichatou Asabe, and his son, Abba El-Rufai, from visiting him.
He alleges that the denial prevented his family from providing him with food, medication and other essential items without any lawful justification or court order.
El-Rufai argues that the alleged treatment violates his constitutional rights to dignity and private and family life under Sections 34 and 37 of the Constitution.
He also relies on Articles 5 and 18 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The former governor further alleges that ICPC officers physically restrained and intimidated his wife and son during an incident last month.
He describes the alleged conduct as an unlawful interference with his spousal and family relationships.
El-Rufai is asking the court to declare that the continued denial of access to his family without lawful authority is unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.
He is also seeking N10 billion in compensation for the alleged violations.
The suit contains nine reliefs, including declarations on his fundamental rights and monetary damages over the alleged treatment in custody.
