El-Rufai Files Fresh N10bn Suit Against ICPC Over Alleged Denial Of Family Access

By Adedapo Adesanya

Embattled former Governor of Kaduna State, Mr 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, Mr Ubong Akpan, also lists the Chairman of the ICPC 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 at the Federal High Court in Abuja on August 13, 2026.

Mr El-Rufai is asking the court to declare that his fundamental rights 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, Mrs Aichatou Asabe, and his son, Mr Abba El-Rufai, from seeing him while he was in custody.

He contends that the alleged denial of access deprived him of the opportunity to receive food, medication and other necessities from his family without any lawful justification or court order.

Mr El-Rufai argued that the alleged actions violated rights 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.

He further alleged that ICPC officers physically restrained and intimidated his wife and son on July 7, describing the incident as an unlawful interference with his spousal and filial relationships.

The former governor is asking the court to declare that the alleged treatment breached his constitutional rights to dignity of the person and private and family life. He is also seeking a declaration that the continued denial of access to his family members without lawful authority is unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.