Court allows ICPC to show selected CCTV footage in El-Rufai’s N10bn suit
Former Governor Seeks N10 Billion in Lawsuit Against Anti-Corruption Commission
Kaduna, Nigeria — Former Governor Nasir El-Rufai has filed a lawsuit seeking N10 billion in damages against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The former governor claims the commission barred his wife, Aichatou Asabe, and son, Abba El-Rufai, from visiting him during his custody.
In a court application submitted on September 9, El-Rufai requested the court to affirm that his fundamental rights remain intact despite his detention, as outlined in Part IV of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
The ICPC and its chairman have denied the allegations presented in El-Rufai’s supporting affidavit. Chief Anti-Corruption Assistant John Uche stated that El-Rufai is lawfully detained under a Federal High Court order in Kaduna, case number FHC/KD/73C/2025.
Uche noted that the commission arranged for a medical visit for El-Rufai on July 7, in compliance with a court order permitting access to his personal physician. During this visit, officers from the ICPC accompanied El-Rufai along with his wife, Aichatou. However, Uche alleged that the medical visit turned into a political gathering, breaching the commission’s security protocols.
Following this incident, the ICPC implemented temporary restrictions on visitations while it reassessed its security measures. Uche further claimed that Abba El-Rufai attempted to visit his father on July 7 but was denied entry. He alleged that Abba later lay in a gutter near the commission’s premises and repeatedly rubbed his leg against its edge.
Uche affirmed that the commission’s CCTV footage captured activities within its vicinity, contending that the video recordings remain unaltered. He also alleged that Aichatou Asabe entered the ICPC premises through unauthorized means on July 4, around 7:35 PM, after official visiting hours, with some commission officers involved now facing disciplinary actions. Consequently, the ICPC suspended Asabe’s visits due to perceived security risks stemming from her alleged noncompliance with access protocols.
In his application, El-Rufai requested the court compel the ICPC to release complete, unedited CCTV footage from June 7, July 4, and July 7. He argued that the three video clips provided by the commission, entitled “The Scuffle,” “The Son Being Taken Away,” and “Unauthorized Entry,” did not represent all relevant footage documented by the surveillance system.
El-Rufai also sought visitor logs, entry and exit records, and other documents regarding visits from his family members during his detention. Additionally, he aimed to question Uche and Sadiq Baba, the official who certified the CCTV evidence, about the selection and certification processes of the video clips and whether other relevant recordings exist.
The former governor asserted that the omitted footage could clarify discrepancies regarding the incidents. He referred specifically to a recording from July 7 that allegedly shows his son being physically restrained and an encounter involving a commission officer.
El-Rufai emphasized the importance of the June 7 recording in demonstrating that the ICPC had initially invited his wife to its premises immediately following his detention. He contended that the July 4 video was pertinent in addressing the commission’s claims of her unauthorized access.
Citing provisions from Section 36(3) of the Constitution, which mandates public court proceedings, and Section 167(d) of the Evidence Act, 2011, he argued that any withholding of relevant evidence should lead the court to draw adverse inferences.
In response, the ICPC opposed El-Rufai’s request for full disclosure of the recordings, expressing concerns that such footage contains sensitive information that could jeopardize the security of its operations if made public. The commission suggested that, if deemed necessary, the complete footage could be viewed privately in the judge’s chambers.
The court ultimately ruled that selected portions of the recordings can be presented in open court, with each party allotted 20 minutes, ahead of the next hearing scheduled for November 3.
