The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) have asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a N1 billion fundamental rights suit filed by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
El-Rufai filed the suit over allegations that his wife, Aichatou Asabe, and his son, Abba El-Rufai, were prevented from visiting him while he was in ICPC custody.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1852/2026, was filed on August 13 and has been assigned to Justice Chigozie Onah. El-Rufai is seeking N1 billion in damages and other reliefs, arguing that the restrictions violated his constitutional rights.
ICPC explains restriction on family visits
In a joint counter-affidavit, the ICPC and its chairman, Musa Aliyu, argued that several claims contained in El-Rufai’s affidavit were false.
John Uche, a Chief Anti-Corruption Assistant in the commission’s Internal Security Support Unit, said El-Rufai was being held under an order of the Federal High Court in Kaduna in connection with case number FHC/KD/73C/2025.
According to the commission, it facilitated a medical visit involving El-Rufai’s personal physician and his wife on July 7, in compliance with a court order.
The ICPC alleged that the visit later became a political meeting, which it said exposed weaknesses in its existing access-control arrangements. It subsequently introduced temporary restrictions on non-essential visits while it reviewed the security situation.
The commission also gave an account of an incident involving El-Rufai’s son, Abba, who arrived at its office on July 7 seeking to visit his father.
It said Abba was initially asked to wait in the visitors’ area while officers established the purpose of his visit. The commission alleged that a confrontation later occurred when he attempted to enter the facility.
The ICPC further said a security review uncovered an earlier incident involving Asabe, who it alleged had entered the facility after official visiting hours with the assistance of some officers.
The commission said officers allegedly involved in the incident were subjected to disciplinary action and that Asabe’s access was temporarily suspended while the matter was investigated.
ICPC says other family members had access
The commission rejected the claim that El-Rufai’s family had been completely denied access to him.
It said other members of his family, including his son on subsequent occasions, were allowed to visit him and bring food, medication and other supplies.
The ICPC attached its visitors’ log to its counter-affidavit as evidence and asked the court to dismiss the claims against the commission and its chairman.
AGF denies responsibility for detention
The AGF also filed a separate counter-affidavit seeking the dismissal of the case.
The Federal Government argued that the AGF does not arrest or detain suspects and does not operate the ICPC’s detention facility.
It maintained that the alleged denial of access to El-Rufai’s family was not carried out by the AGF and that the office was not involved in the events of July 7.
The AGF also argued that the relevant court order directed the ICPC and its chairman to allow El-Rufai access to his lawyer and personal physician but did not specifically require access for his wife or other family members.
It therefore maintained that the ICPC was entitled to establish security protocols governing access to its facility.
The court will determine whether the restrictions placed on El-Rufai’s family visits amounted to a violation of his fundamental rights.
SEO title: ICPC, AGF Ask Court to Dismiss El-Rufai’s N1bn Suit Over Family Access
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