Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has filed a ₦10 billion lawsuit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over alleged denial of access to his wife and son while in detention.
In the suit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, El-Rufai also named the ICPC chairman and the Attorney-General of the Federation as defendants.
The former governor alleged that ICPC officials prevented his wife, Aichatou Asabe, and his son, Abba El-Rufai, from visiting him and supplying him with food, medication and other necessities.
He is asking the court to declare that the alleged denial of access violates his fundamental rights to dignity and private and family life, as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
El-Rufai also wants the court to order the ICPC to grant him unhindered and reasonable access to his family members and lawyers throughout his detention.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the case, El-Rufai’s Principal Secretary, Mohammed Shaba, said the former governor’s wife had regularly visited him and provided food, clothing and medication before July 7.
Shaba also referenced an earlier Federal High Court order directing the ICPC to allow detainees access to their lawyers and personal physicians when necessary.
El-Rufai argued that despite the court order, his wife and son had allegedly been prevented from accessing him without justification, causing him emotional distress and depriving him of essential support.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1852/2026, was filed on August 13, 2026.
