Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has filed a fresh ₦10 billion fundamental rights suit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), alleging that the anti-graft agency unlawfully prevented his wife and son from visiting him while he was in detention.

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The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1852/2026, was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on August 13, 2026, through his lawyer, Ubong Akpan. El-Rufai listed the ICPC, its Chairman and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) as defendants. In the originating motion, the former governor alleged that his wife, Aichatou Asabe, and his son, Abba El-Rufai, were repeatedly denied access to him while he was being held at the ICPC office in Abuja. He argued that the denial was particularly harmful because his family had been responsible for bringing him food, medication, clothing and other personal necessities.

El-Rufai Alleges Violation of Constitutional Rights

El-Rufai is asking the court to declare that his fundamental rights remain enforceable despite his detention. He is relying on Sections 34 and 37 of the 1999 Constitution, which protect the right to dignity and privacy/family life, as well as Articles 5 and 18 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

He specifically wants the court to declare that the alleged treatment of his wife and son by ICPC officials on July 7 amounted to unlawful interference with his dignity and family life. He also wants the court to declare the continued denial of family access, without lawful authority or a court order, unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.

According to the former governor, the alleged denial subjected him to “humiliation, emotional trauma, anxiety and psychological distress.” He maintained that the ICPC acted arbitrarily and in a manner inconsistent with his constitutional and human rights.

Former Governor Claims Court Had Already Granted Access

A major part of El-Rufai’s case is his claim that an earlier Federal High Court order had already permitted access to his lawyers and family members.

In an affidavit filed in support of the application, Mohammed Shaba, El-Rufai’s Principal Secretary, said the former governor was detained at the ICPC office in Abuja. Shaba said the information contained in his affidavit was obtained from El-Rufai’s wife on July 12.

According to the affidavit, Asabe had regularly visited her husband before July 7 and had been responsible for providing him with meals, medication, clothing and other personal necessities. Shaba said the visits had previously been conducted in accordance with ICPC procedures and El-Rufai’s rights as a detainee.

The affidavit also referred to an earlier criminal case, FHC/KD/73C/2025, pending before the Federal High Court in Kaduna. Shaba said Justice R.M. Aikawa, on April 1, ordered the ICPC to allow the defendants access to their lawyers and personal physicians whenever required.

The affidavit argued that the order demonstrated that detainees should not be held incommunicado and that the ICPC remained subject to judicial oversight regarding the conditions under which suspects are detained.

El-Rufai Seeks Family and Legal Access

Beyond monetary compensation, El-Rufai is asking the Federal High Court to order the ICPC to grant him reasonable access to his wife, son, other family members and lawyers throughout the period of his detention.

He contends that his detention does not remove his constitutional protections and that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act also guarantees humane treatment and reasonable access to family members and legal representatives.

The former governor is therefore asking the court not only to recognise the alleged violation of his rights but also to award him ₦10 billion in damages for what he described as unlawful interference with his dignity, family life and fundamental rights.

The allegations contained in the suit are claims by El-Rufai and his representatives; the court is yet to determine the substantive issues raised in the case.