Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, alongside members of his family, has demanded ₦15.6 billion in damages from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), its chairman, and other officials over his arrest, detention, and alleged defamatory statements issued against him.
The demand follows claims by the anti-corruption agency that “wiretapping equipment” was discovered at the former governor’s residence.
In a letter dated March 4, 2026, El-Rufai’s legal team described a press statement issued by the ICPC on March 2 as defamatory and misleading, arguing that it caused significant reputational harm to the former governor.
According to the formal legal notice, El-Rufai accused the commission of violating his fundamental rights and outlined several compensation demands. These include ₦5 billion as compensatory damages, another ₦5 billion as exemplary and punitive damages meant to deter similar conduct, and an additional ₦5 billion as aggravated damages.
The notice also seeks ₦500 million for injurious falsehood and ₦100 million to cover legal costs, bringing the total claim to ₦15.6 billion.
El-Rufai’s lawyers gave the ICPC 24 hours to comply with the demands, warning that failure to do so would lead to further legal action.
The legal team 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 file a complaint before the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights over alleged violations of El-Rufai’s fundamental rights.
