Detention: El-Rufai Sues ICPC for N15.6bn Compensation

Legal Action by Former Kaduna Governor

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has taken significant legal steps by submitting a formal petition and pre-action notice to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The petition demands a substantial sum of N15.6 billion in damages, citing what he describes as illegal detention and various alleged violations.

The petition, dated March 4, 2026, was prepared by a law firm led by Ubong Akpan and delivered to the ICPC’s headquarters in Abuja. This move marks another chapter in the ongoing legal dispute between El-Rufai and the anti-graft agency.

El-Rufai has been in the custody of the ICPC since the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) granted him bail on February 18, 2026. This is not the first time that the former governor has engaged in legal battles with the commission. Earlier, he filed a N1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit against the ICPC following a raid on his residence by the agency’s operatives.

In the latest petition, El-Rufai is demanding N15.6 billion in damages for alleged offences including defamation, abuse of office, forgery and uttering of false documents, malicious prosecution, contempt of court, and violation of his fundamental rights.

Ubong Akpan, the lead lawyer in the case, described an earlier statement issued by the ICPC concerning El-Rufai as reckless, defamatory, and legally untenable. The petition highlights the serious nature of the allegations and the perceived misconduct by the commission.

The petition reads in part: ‘It is with profound regret, yet resolute determination, that we address you. The Commission, established by law to combat corruption and uphold the highest standards of integrity, has descended into what can only be described as a circus of chicanery, theatrical posturing and media trial. Your press statement of today is not a communication from a law enforcement agency; it is the frantic scribbling of an organisation that has been caught with its hands in the cookie jar of illegality and is now desperately attempting to justify the unjustifiable.’

‘We place you on notice: this letter is not a press release; it is a formal pre-action notice. It is the final courtesy extended to you before we unleash the full weight of the law upon your institution for the catalogue of crimes, torts and constitutional violations detailed below.’

Breakdown of Damages Sought

The petition outlines the specific damages sought from the ICPC, which include:

• Compensatory damages: N5,000,000,000
• Exemplary/Punitive damages: N5,000,000,000
• Aggravated damages: N5,000,000,000
• Damages for injurious falsehood: N500,000,000
• Cost of action: N100,000,000

Total: N15,600,000,000.

This legal action underscores the gravity of the situation and the potential consequences for the ICPC if the allegations are proven. The case is likely to have far-reaching implications for the relationship between the commission and those it investigates.