El-Rufai demands family access, N10bn damages from ICPC

Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, has initiated a N10 billion fundamental rights lawsuit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). El-Rufai alleges that the commission has denied him access to his wife and son while he is in custody, constituting a violation of his constitutional rights.

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the respondents’ continued denial of family access without lawful authority is unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.

The suit, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, names the ICPC chairman and the Attorney-General of the Federation as defendants. El-Rufai's legal team argues that the repeated refusal to allow family members to visit, particularly to provide food and medication, is unlawful and breaches his rights under the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The former governor also alleges that ICPC officers intimidated his wife and son during an attempted visit.

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This action has subjected the applicant to humiliation, emotional trauma, anxiety and psychological distress.

El-Rufai is seeking multiple reliefs from the court. These include declarations that his fundamental rights remain enforceable despite his detention and an order compelling the respondents to grant him reasonable and unhindered access to his family and legal counsel. He contends that the alleged denial of access has subjected him to humiliation, emotional trauma, and psychological distress, constituting an unjustifiable interference with his dignity and family life.

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The respondents’ conduct amounts to an unjustifiable interference with the applicant’s dignity and family life and is therefore unconstitutional.