The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed date for judgment in a N10bn fundamental rights suit filed by former Kaduna Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over the alleged denial of access to his wife and son while in custody.
El-Rufai sued the ICPC, its Chairman, Musa Aliyu, and the Attorney-General of the Federation, alleging that they prevented his wife, Aichatou Asabe, and son, Abba, from visiting him.
Justice Chigozie Onah fixed the judgment date on Wednesday after lawyers to the parties adopted their processes and presented their final arguments.
Before the adoption of the processes, the court ordered the parties to play CCTV footage from the ICPC premises to support their respective positions.
The footage included incidents involving Asabe on July 4 and July 7, as well as an encounter involving Abba.
El-Rufai’s lawyer, Ubong Akpan, argued that the recordings did not establish any security breach by his client’s wife or son that justified denying them access.
He maintained that any restriction on visits to a detainee must be justified and supported by verifiable evidence, adding that the alleged denial violated his client’s fundamental rights.
However, the ICPC’s lawyer, Yetunde Mosunmola, urged the court to dismiss the suit, arguing that El-Rufai was in lawful custody and that visits were subject to security regulations.
She alleged that Asabe breached the commission’s access protocols on two occasions, including entering its premises after official visiting hours on July 4 with the assistance of some officers.
Mosunmola said the commission subsequently reviewed its security arrangements, adding that officers involved in the alleged breach had faced disciplinary action, with one dismissed.
She maintained that other members of El-Rufai’s family were allowed to visit him and that the restrictions were based on security concerns rather than an attempt to violate his rights.
The Attorney-General’s representative, Maimuna Lami-Shiru, also urged the court to dismiss the suit, arguing that the ICPC acted within the law and that the applicant’s wife breached the commission’s protocols.
El-Rufai is seeking N10bn in damages and declarations that his fundamental rights under the 1999 Constitution, as amended, remain enforceable despite his detention.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1852/2026, was filed on August 13.
The ICPC, in its counter-affidavit, maintained that El-Rufai was being held under an order of the Federal High Court, Kaduna Division.
The commission also alleged that a medical visit involving El-Rufai’s personal physician and his wife on July 7 was turned into a political meeting, prompting a review of its access arrangements.
It further claimed that CCTV recordings from its premises were accurate and had not been altered.
Justice Onah adjourned the matter until December 8 for judgment.