Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, and members of his family have demanded N15.6 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 made against him.
The demand follows claims by the anti-graft 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 legal notice, El-Rufai accused the commission of actions that allegedly violated his fundamental rights and outlined several demands for compensation.
The lawyers are seeking N5 billion as compensatory damages, N5 billion as exemplary and punitive damages intended to deter similar conduct, and another N5 billion as aggravated damages.
In addition, the notice demands N500 million for injurious falsehood and N100 million to cover legal costs, bringing the total claim to N15.6 billion.
El-Rufai’s legal team gave the ICPC 24 hours to comply with the demands, warning that failure to do so would lead to further legal action.
The notice also outlined several legal steps planned if the matter is not resolved, including “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 further 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 what they described as violations of El-Rufai’s fundamental rights.