Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has filed a fresh N10 billion lawsuit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over the alleged denial of access to his wife and son while in custody.
El-Rufai, through his lawyer, Ubong Akpan, filed the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1852/2026 at the Federal High Court in Abuja on August 13, 2026. The ICPC Chairman and the Attorney-General of the Federation were joined as the second and third defendants.
The former governor is seeking nine reliefs, including a declaration that his fundamental rights remain protected despite his detention and that the alleged denial of access to his family members violated his constitutional rights.
El-Rufai alleged that ICPC officials prevented his wife, Aichatou Asabe, and son, Abba El-Rufai, from visiting him, thereby restricting their ability to provide him with food, medication and other necessities.
He also alleged that ICPC officers physically restrained and intimidated his wife and son on July 7, describing the alleged conduct as a violation of his rights to dignity and private and family life.
The former governor is asking the court to order the ICPC to grant him unhindered and reasonable access to his family members and legal representatives throughout his detention.
According to the suit, a previous order of the Federal High Court in Kaduna had directed the ICPC to allow El-Rufai access to his lawyers and personal physicians whenever necessary.
In an affidavit filed in support of the suit, El-Rufai’s Principal Secretary, Mohammed Shaba, said the former governor’s wife had previously visited him regularly and supplied him with food, medication and other personal necessities without obstruction.
Shaba alleged that the situation changed on July 7, when Asabe and her son were allegedly denied access to the detained former governor.
El-Rufai argued that the alleged actions of the respondents were unconstitutional and amounted to an unjustifiable interference with his dignity and family life.
The court is expected to hear the suit and determine whether the former governor’s fundamental rights were breached by the alleged denial of family access.
