Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has filed a fresh ₦10 billion fundamental rights suit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), accusing the agency of repeatedly denying his wife and son access to him while in custody.
The originating motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1852/2026, was filed on August 13, 2026, at the Federal High Court in Abuja through his lawyer, Ubong Akpan. The suit lists the ICPC as the first respondent, its Chairman as the second, and the Attorney-General of the Federation as the third.
El-Rufai alleges that the anti-graft agency prevented his wife, Aichatou Asabe, and son, Abba El-Rufai, from visiting him. He contends that this denied him the opportunity to receive food, medication, and other necessities from his family without any lawful justification or court order.
He further claims that ICPC officers physically restrained and intimidated his wife and son on July 7, describing the incident as an arbitrary interference with his spousal and filial relationships. The former governor says the alleged actions violated his rights under Sections 34 and 37 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), as well as Articles 5 and 18 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
In the suit, El-Rufai is seeking nine reliefs. These include a declaration that his fundamental rights under Part IV of the Constitution remain valid and enforceable despite his detention, and a declaration that the continued denial of family access without lawful authority is unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.
He is also asking the court for an order directing the respondents to grant him “unhindered and reasonable access to members of his family and counsel throughout the period of his detention,” consistent with an earlier directive by the Federal High Court. He is claiming ₦10 billion in damages for the alleged violations, which he says caused him humiliation, emotional trauma, anxiety, and psychological distress.
Supporting affidavits in the case indicate that Asabe has been responsible for providing her husband with food, clothing, medication, and other personal necessities while he remains in ICPC custody. The suit references a prior court order from the Federal High Court in Kaduna directing the ICPC to allow access to counsel and personal physicians.
The matter is expected to come up for hearing at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The ICPC has not yet publicly responded to the fresh suit.
Discover more from VOICE OF THE PEOPLE
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
