Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has sued the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for N10 billion over alleged denial of access to his wife and son, Abba El-Rufai, while in custody.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1852/2026, was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on August 13, 2026, by his lawyer, Ubong Akpan.
The suit also listed the Chairman of the ICPC and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) as the second and third defendants.
The former governor is asking the court to declare that his fundamental rights under Part IV of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, remain enforceable despite his detention by the commission.
He claims that the continued refusal of access to his family, especially to provide food, medication and other necessities without any lawful justification or court order, adding that it violated his 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.
El-Rufai further alleged that on July 7, ICPC officials physically restrained and intimidated his wife and son, stating that the incident interfered with his spousal and filial relationships.
He asked the court to declare that “the respondents’ continued denial of family access without lawful authority is unconstitutional, illegal, null and void," adding that "this action has subjected the applicant to humiliation, emotional trauma, anxiety and psychological distress.”
More details later.