Former Governor of Kaduna state, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai and members of his family have demanded ₦15.6 billion in damages from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), including its chairman and other officials, over his arrest, detention, and alleged issuance of false and defamatory public statements.
The claim follows the commission’s earlier assertion that “wiretapping equipment” was discovered at El-Rufai’s residence, a claim his legal team has described as misleading and damaging to his reputation.
In a letter dated March 4, 2026, El-Rufai’s lawyers alleged that a press statement issued by the ICPC on March 2, 2026, contained defamatory content that caused significant reputational and personal harm to the former governor.
The legal notice demands several categories of compensation, including ₦5 billion as compensatory damages, ₦5 billion as exemplary and punitive damages intended to deter similar conduct, and another ₦5 billion as aggravated damages.
Additionally, the notice seeks ₦500 million for injurious falsehood and ₦100 million to cover legal expenses, bringing the total monetary claim to ₦15.6 billion.
The legal team gave the anti-corruption agency 24 hours to respond and meet the demands, warning that failure to comply would trigger further legal proceedings.
The notice outlined potential legal actions, including initiating contempt proceedings against the ICPC chairman at the Federal High Court, accelerating pending fundamental rights enforcement and bail applications at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, and filing civil suits for malicious prosecution, false imprisonment, defamation, and abuse of office.
The lawyers also threatened to report 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.
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