Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, asking it to restrain anti-corruption and security agencies from freezing his bank accounts or seizing his assets.
In a suit filed on February 24 through his lawyer, Oluwole Iyamu (SAN), Mr El-Rufai is seeking an interim injunction directing the agencies to maintain the “status quo ante” pending the hearing and determination of both the motion and the substantive suit.
The respondents listed in the case are the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the State Security Service (SSS), and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
Series of Legal Pushbacks
The filing marks one of several legal actions taken by the former governor in recent days following heightened scrutiny by the agencies.
Mr El-Rufai, who was detained by the ICPC for about a week, has faced multiple enforcement actions since returning to Abuja on February 12 from Cairo, Egypt. Security operatives reportedly attempted to arrest him upon arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
On February 16, the EFCC detained him at its Abuja headquarters after he honoured an invitation over corruption allegations linked to his tenure as Kaduna State governor between 2015 and 2023.
Two days later, ICPC operatives rearrested him shortly after the EFCC granted him bail.
SSS Charges
While in custody, the SSS filed charges accusing Mr El-Rufai of illegally intercepting a phone call belonging to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The charges stem from comments Mr El-Rufai made during an interview on Arise Television, where he claimed he and another person tapped Mr Ribadu’s phone conversation in which security operatives were allegedly instructed to detain him.
He was scheduled to be arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja. However, the arraignment did not proceed after the ICPC failed to produce him in court. The case has since been adjourned to April 23.
Reliefs Sought
In the latest suit, Mr El-Rufai is asking the court to declare that his severance benefits received after completing his tenure as governor cannot reasonably be regarded as proceeds of unlawful activity.
He also seeks a declaration that properties allegedly acquired using those funds were lawfully purchased and rightfully belong to him.
The former governor, who has become a vocal critic of President Bola Tinubu following the collapse of his ministerial nomination in 2023, argues that any move to freeze his accounts or confiscate his assets before the determination of the case would amount to a violation of his rights.
The court is expected to hear the application for interim relief in the coming days.
