Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has accused officials of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of attempting to force him to abandon politics as a condition for his release from detention. The allegation is contained in a 30-page criminal complaint filed in court, directly naming ICPC Chairman Musa Adamu Aliyu and four other officials. El-Rufai claims ICPC operatives told him that his freedom hinged on his willingness to disengage from political activities.
The former governor’s suit, filed as a fundamental rights enforcement case at the Federal High Court in Abuja, outlines that ICPC officers repeatedly warned him that continued political involvement would keep him detained. Count Six of the suit accuses the officials of wrongful confinement with intent to compel, an offence punishable under Sections 264 and 267 of the Penal Code. El-Rufai is demanding a probe into what he describes as an abuse of power and infringement of his constitutional right to participate in politics.
The case, filed on February 20, 2026, also challenges the invasion and search of El-Rufai’s Abuja residence on February 19. He alleged that the operation, conducted by ICPC operatives and police officers, violated his rights to dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing, and privacy under Sections 34–37 of the Nigerian Constitution. The suit seeks a declaration that any evidence seized during the search is inadmissible and an order for the immediate return of all items taken.
El-Rufai is seeking N1 billion in general, exemplary, and aggravated damages from the ICPC, the Chief Magistrate of the FCT Magistrate Court, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Federal Ministry of Justice. His lawyers have filed responses to counter-affidavits from the ICPC but are yet to respond to those from the police. The court has directed that notices be served on respondents not represented in court.
The Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, adjourned the matter until March 25, 2026, to allow parties to regularize their processes. As of now, the ICPC has not issued any official response to El-Rufai’s allegations. The case remains closely watched, given its implications for political rights and the conduct of anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria.
