Nigeria: El-Rufai Slams Fresh N10bn Suit Against ICPC, Alleges Denial of Access to Family

What the report says

Detained former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has filed a fresh 10 billion naira fundamental rights suit against Nigeria’s Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), according to Vanguard reporting distributed by AllAfrica. The case was lodged at the Federal High Court in Abuja and is identified as FHC/ABJ/CS/1852/2026.

In the suit, El-Rufai alleges that ICPC officials denied his wife, Aichatou Asabe, and son, Abba El-Rufai, access to him while he is in detention. Through his lawyer, he says the family was prevented from bringing him food, medication and other necessities, and claims the conduct violated constitutional protections and provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. He is asking the court to declare the alleged restrictions unlawful and to order that he be allowed reasonable access to family members and counsel.

The filing also says his wife and son were physically restrained and intimidated on July 7, and that the alleged denial caused humiliation, emotional distress and psychological trauma. The ICPC, its chairman and the Attorney General of the Federation were listed as respondents. The article says El-Rufai has been detained since February.

This is not his first legal challenge over the detention. Vanguard reported that he previously filed a separate 1 billion naira rights case over an alleged unlawful search of his Abuja home. More broadly, the report notes that El-Rufai is facing multiple cases in Abuja and Kaduna, including matters tied to alleged interception of communications involving National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.