BREAKING: EL-RUFAI DEMANDS N15.6 BILLION DAMAGES FROM ICPC OVER ARREST, ALLEGED DEFAMATION

FORMER KADUNA GOVERNOR EL-RUFAI DEMANDS N15.6 BILLION DAMAGES FROM ICPC OVER ARREST, ALLEGED DEFAMATION


Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has demanded N15.6 billion in damages from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), its Chairman, and several officials over what he described as unlawful arrest, detention, and defamatory public statements against him.

The demand was contained in a formal legal notice dated March 4, 2026, issued by El-Rufai’s legal team, following a press statement released by the ICPC on March 2, 2026. In the statement, the anti-graft agency reportedly claimed that “wiretapping equipment” was discovered at the former governor’s residence.

El-Rufai’s lawyers described the commission’s statement as false, defamatory, and misleading, arguing that it has caused serious reputational damage to the former governor.

According to the legal notice, the ICPC’s actions allegedly violated El-Rufai’s fundamental rights, including his arrest and detention under circumstances the legal team described as unlawful.

Breakdown of the Damages

The former governor is demanding the following compensation from the commission:

N5 billion as compensatory damages

N5 billion as exemplary and punitive damages intended to deter similar conduct

N5 billion as aggravated damages

N500 million for injurious falsehood

N100 million as the cost of legal action

The total claim amounts to N15.6 billion.

24-Hour Ultimatum to ICPC

El-Rufai’s lawyers have given the ICPC 24 hours to comply with the demands, warning that failure to do so would result in further legal action.

They stated that the legal team would proceed to:

File contempt proceedings against the ICPC Chairman at the Federal High Court

Accelerate the pending fundamental rights enforcement and bail applications before the FCT High Court

Initiate civil suits for malicious prosecution, false imprisonment, defamation, and abuse of office

Additional Legal Actions Threatened

The legal team also threatened additional steps, including:

Reporting the alleged forgery of a remand order for criminal investigation

Petitioning the FCT Judicial Service Commission to investigate and possibly discipline the magistrate involved

Filing a complaint before the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights over alleged violations of El-Rufai’s fundamental rights

As of the time of filing this report, the ICPC had not issued an official response to the demands made by the former governor.

The development marks a new phase in the legal dispute between El-Rufai and the anti-corruption agency, which could lead to multiple court proceedings in the coming weeks.

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