Former Kaduna governor alleges wife and son were prevented from seeing him in custody, seeks declaration of rights violations.
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has sued the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over the alleged violation of his fundamental rights while in the commission’s custody.
The suit, filed by his lawyer, Ubong Akpan, also listed the Chairman of the ICPC and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) as second and third defendants.
The originating motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1852/2026, was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on August 13, 2026.
El-Rufai is asking the court to declare that his fundamental rights under Part IV of the 1999 Constitution remain valid and enforceable despite his detention by the commission.
According to the suit, the former governor alleged that ICPC officials repeatedly prevented his wife, Aichatou Asabe, and son, Abba El-Rufai, from visiting him while he was in custody.
He claimed the alleged denial of access deprived him of food, medication and other necessities that could have been provided by his family, without lawful justification or a court order.
El-Rufai further alleged that ICPC officers physically restrained and intimidated his wife and son on July 7, describing the incident as unlawful interference with his family relationships.
He argued that the alleged treatment violated his constitutional rights to dignity and private and family life, as well as provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The former governor is seeking nine reliefs from the court, including declarations that the alleged denial of family access was unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.
He is also demanding N10 billion in compensation for the alleged violations.