El-Rufai sues ICPC for allegedly denying family access to him

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has initiated a N10 billion lawsuit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). El-Rufai's legal action stems from allegations that the ICPC prevented him from accessing his wife, Aichatou Asabe, and son, Abba El-Rufai, during his detention. The suit, filed by his lawyer Ubong Akpan, also names the ICPC chairman and the Attorney-General of the Federation as defendants. Filed on August 13 and sighted on Sunday, the originating motion seeks nine reliefs from the court. El-Rufai contends that his fundamental human rights, as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, remain inviolable despite his detention. He specifically prays for a declaration that the repeated denial of access to his family, who were meant to provide him with food, medication, and other necessities, constitutes a breach of his rights without lawful justification. The former governor argues that the alleged physical restraint, intimidation, and interference with his spousal and filial relationship by ICPC officers on July 7 violated his right to dignity and private and family life. He seeks a declaration that the continued denial of family access without lawful authority is unconstitutional and illegal. El-Rufai further requests a court order directing the respondents to grant him unhindered and reasonable access to his family and legal counsel throughout his detention, as previously ordered by the Federal High Court. He asserts that despite the court's order, his wife and son were prevented from seeing him, thereby denying him essential provisions and subjecting him to humiliation, emotional trauma, anxiety, and psychological distress. He alleges the respondents acted arbitrarily and unlawfully, constituting an unjustifiable interference with his dignity and family life.