Arrest, Detention: El-Rufai, Family Demand N15.6bn Damages

By Adesina Soyooye

Nasir El-Rufai, a former Governor of Kaduna State,  and members of his family have demanded the sum of N15.6 billion from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, its chairman, and other officials over his arrest, detention in damages.

The action stems from what he and his family  described

as false public statements issued against him.

It follows claims by the ICPC that “wiretapping equipment” was found at the  residence of the chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

El-Rufai’s legal team, in a letter dated March 4, 2026, described a press statement issued by the ICPC on March 2, 2026, as defamatory and misleading. The letter argued that it has caused significant reputational harm to the former Governor.

El-Rufai, in a legal notice accused the ICPC of actions that violated his fundamental rights and listed several demands for grounds of compensation. They include N5 billion as compensatory damages, N5 billion as exemplary and punitive damages intended to deter similar conduct, and another N5 billion as aggravated damages.

He, also, in the notice, seek N500 million for injurious falsehood and N100 million as  legal costs, all  totalling N15.6 billion.

The legal team gave the commission 24 hours to meet the demands, warning that failure to comply would trigger further legal action.

The legal notice disclosed that planned steps include, “filing contempt proceedings against the ICPC chairman at the Federal High Court, expediting pending fundamental rights enforcement and bail applications at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, and initiating civil suits for malicious prosecution, false imprisonment, defamation, and abuse of office”.

The lawyers also threatened to report the alleged forgery of a remand order for criminal investigation, petition the Federal Capital Territory Judicial Service Commission for disciplinary action against the magistrate involved, and to file a complaint before the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights over alleged violations of El-Rufai’s fundamental rights.