Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has filed a N10 billion fundamental rights suit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), alleging that his wife and son have been denied access to him in detention.
The suit, FHC/ABJ/CS/1852/2026, was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on August 13, 2026, by his lawyer, Ubong Akpan. The ICPC chairman and the Attorney-General of the Federation are also defendants.
El-Rufai is seeking nine reliefs, including declarations that his constitutional rights remain enforceable while in custody.
He alleged that his wife, Aichatou Asabe, and son, Abba El-Rufai, were repeatedly prevented from visiting him, affecting their ability to provide food, medication and other necessities.
He contended that the restrictions, allegedly imposed without lawful authority or a court order, breached Sections 34 and 37 of the 1999 Constitution and Articles 5 and 18 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
He also alleged that ICPC officials physically restrained and intimidated his wife and son on July 7.
READ ALSO:Â ICPC Accuses El-Rufai Of Breaching Court-Approved Medical Visit, Arrests Personal Doctor
El-Rufai wants the court to declare the alleged restrictions unlawful and order the commission to grant him reasonable access to his family and lawyers throughout his detention.
In an affidavit, his Principal Secretary, Mohammed Shaba, said Asabe supplied the information contained in the deposition on July 12.
Shaba said she had routinely provided El-Rufai with food, medication, clothing and other necessities.
He cited an April 1, 2026 order by Justice R.M. Aikawa of the Federal High Court, Kaduna, directing that the defendants in FHC/KD/73C/2025 be allowed access to their lawyers and personal physicians when required.
The latest suit follows a July dispute over El-Rufai’s medical access. The ICPC accused him of breaching conditions attached to an approved medical visit to the National Hospital, Abuja, and arrested his personal physician, Professor Bello Abubakar. El-Rufai rejected the commission’s account.
It is the former governor’s second major fundamental rights action against the ICPC this year. In February, he filed a N1 billion suit challenging the search of his Abuja residence and alleging violations of his rights to dignity, liberty, fair hearing and privacy.
The N10 billion claim is pending before the court, with the allegations yet to be determined.