El-Rufai sues ICPC over family access denial

Former Nigeria — Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, currently detained by the Nigeria — Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) in Abuja, has filed a fresh N10 billion fundamental rights suit against the commission. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1852/2026 and filed on August 13, 2026, alleges that the ICPC denied his wife Aichatou Asabe and son Abba El-Rufai access to him while in custody, preventing them from providing food, medication, and other necessities. El-Rufai claims this violates his constitutional rights under Sections 34, 37, and 46 of the 1999 Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights. He also alleges that on July 7, ICPC officers physically restrained and intimidated his wife and son. The suit names the ICPC chairman and the Nigeria — Attorney General of the Federation as co-defendants and seeks nine reliefs, including an order for unhindered family and counsel access. An affidavit by his principal secretary, Mohammed Shaba, states that a prior court order from April 1 allowed such access. This is the latest in a series of legal actions by El-Rufai against the ICPC, which is prosecuting him for alleged corruption during his tenure as governor.