16.8.2026
Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai has filed a fresh N10 billion suit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Mr. El-Rufai who has spent five months in the custody of the ICPC following allegations of corruption, and the agency it seems is not in a hurry to speed up the trial of the African Democratic Congress chieftain.
In the suit FHC/ABJ/CS/1852/2026 and filed on August 13, by his Ubong Akpan, El-Rufai claims that the ICPC has denied him access to his wife, Aichatou Asabe, and son, Abba El-Rufai, while in custody, thus violating his fundalmental human rights. The ICPC chairman and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) as second and third defendants.
He prayed the court to declare that his fundamental human rights guaranteed under Part IV of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) remain inviolable and in force notwithstanding his detention by the commission and should be honoured.
The court to declare that his repeated refusal and/or prevention from access to his family members while in custody, particularly to provide him with food, medication and other necessities, without any lawful justification or court order, breached his rights.
He said these rights are guaranteed under Sections 34 and 37 of the Constitution and Articles 5 and 18 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Mr El-Rufai sought a declaration that the physical restraint, intimidation and treatment meted out to Ms Asabe and Mr Abba by ICPC’s officers on July 7, as well as their alleged arbitrary interference with the spousal and filial relationship, amounted to a violation and breach of his right to the dignity of the person as well as his right to private and family life.
He sought “a declaration that the respondents’ continued denial of family access without lawful authority is unconstitutional, illegal, null and void. NAN