The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed December 8, 2026, for judgment in a N10 billion fundamental rights suit filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Justice Chigozie Onah fixed the date on Wednesday after lawyers representing El-Rufai, the ICPC, its chairman, Musa Aliyu, and the Attorney-General of the Federation adopted their final written arguments.
El-Rufai instituted the suit against the commission, its chairman and the Attorney-General, alleging that his wife, Aichatou Asabe, and son, Abba, were prevented from visiting him while he was in the commission’s custody.
The former governor is seeking N10 billion in damages, alongside other reliefs, including a declaration that his fundamental rights under Chapter Four of the 1999 Constitution remain protected despite his detention.
During Wednesday’s proceedings, the court directed the parties to play CCTV footage from the ICPC premises to support their respective positions. The recordings included incidents involving members of El-Rufai’s family on July 4 and July 7.
One of the clips reportedly showed his wife arriving at the commission’s office at about 2:37 p.m. on July 7, accompanied by an officer, to deliver food to him.
El-Rufai’s lawyer, Ubong Akpan, argued that the footage did not establish that his client’s wife or son violated any security protocol to warrant the restrictions placed on their visits.
He maintained that the respondents had failed to provide verifiable reasons for denying the former governor access to his relatives, insisting that the restrictions amounted to a violation of his fundamental rights.
However, the ICPC’s lawyer, Yetunde Mosunmola, maintained that the commission acted within its security procedures.
She alleged that Asabe breached the commission’s protocols on two occasions, including entering its premises after visiting hours on July 4 with the assistance of some officers.
Mosunmola disclosed that the officers involved were disciplined, with one dismissed, adding that other members of El-Rufai’s family were allowed to visit him.
She urged the court to dismiss the suit, arguing that the commission’s actions did not amount to a violation of his fundamental rights.
The Attorney-General of the Federation, represented by the Director of Civil Litigation and Public Law, Maimuna Lami-Shiru, also urged the court to dismiss the application, maintaining that the ICPC and its chairman acted within the law.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1852/2026, was filed on August 13, 2026. Judgment is expected on December 8, 2026.
