How El-Rufai’s Wife Was Smuggled Into ICPC Custody At 7:35pm, Son Fell Inside Gutter — ICPC, AGF Defend Blocking Family, Ask Court To Dismiss N1bn Suit

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) have told the Federal High Court in Abuja how the wife of former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Aichatou Asabe, was allegedly smuggled into ICPC custody at 7:35pm on a Saturday, while his son Abba fell inside a gutter during a dramatic attempt to force his way into the detention facility.

The explosive revelations are contained in counter-affidavits filed by both agencies asking the court to dismiss the N1 billion fundamental human rights suit filed by the detained ex-governor over denial of access to his family.

The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1852/2026 and filed on 13 August by Ubong Akpan, seeks N1 billion in damages for being prevented from having access to his wife and son in July 2026.

Mr El-Rufai, who has been in ICPC custody since February based on a Kaduna court order in charge FHC/KD/73C/2025, claimed the denial of family access violated his rights guaranteed under Part IV of the 1999 Constitution.

But in a counter-affidavit sworn by John Uche, a chief anti-corruption assistant in its Internal Security Support Unit, the ICPC described El-Rufai’s claims as false and gave a blow-by-blow account of what happened on 7 July 2026.

According to Mr Uche, on that day the commission, in compliance with a court order, facilitated a medical visit for El-Rufai to his personal physician, accompanied by ICPC officers and his wife Asabe.

The commission said reports later showed that the medical visit turned into a political meeting, breaching its security protocol.

“Against this development, the commission said it adopted a temporary-access control measure, restricting non-essential access to the ex-governor because unrestricted access presented a continuing risk until the vulnerability was understood and adequately mitigated,” the ICPC stated.

It was in that tense atmosphere that El-Rufai’s son, Abba, approached Mr Uche at his desk to request a visit to his father. Mr Uche said he contacted his superior, Henry Hwande, who instructed him to find out the purpose of the visit.

“He said while Abba was waiting, Asabe, Mr El-Rufai’s wife, met him and after conversing with him began raising her voice and demanding that Abba be granted access to his father,” the affidavit reads.

Minutes later, Abba attempted to force his way into the building.

“Mr Uche said several minutes later, Abba attempted to proceed into the commission’s building, but he quickly stood in his way to prevent both him and Asabe from gaining access. That while being focused on preventing him from gaining access, I fell into a ditch where my leg trapped and I called out for help at which point the applicant’s son and Aichatou Asabe continued to make their way towards the building’s entrance, as captured by the CCTV footage,” he swore.

“That my cry for help attracted the security personnel who then swung into action to prevent the unauthorised entry of the applicant’s son while Aichatou Asabe gained access into the building and headed for the detention area. That after he was prevented from gaining entry into the building, the applicant’s son lay in the gutter and repeatedly rubbed his leg against the edge of the gutter,” Mr Uche added.

The ICPC said CCTV cameras installed at strategic locations recorded the incident and the footage remained accurate and untampered.

During a review triggered by the 7 July breach, the commission said it uncovered another shocking breach — that Asabe was allegedly smuggled into the ICPC premises on Saturday, 4 July at about 7:35 p.m. after official visiting hours with the connivance of some officers of the commission who are currently facing disciplinary action.

Based on Asabe’s repeated disregard for access control protocols, the commission said it determined that her continued access posed a specific security risk and temporarily suspended her visiting access pending a security review.

Mr Uche, who attached the commission’s visitors log as Exhibit ICPC D, said dismissing El-Rufai’s claims would be in the interest of justice. He added that contrary to the ex-governor’s claim, other family members, including his son who was refused entry on 7 July, had severally been granted access to bring him meals, medication and other supplies after the incident.

AGF: I Have No Detention Facility, I Did Not Block El-Rufai’s Family

On its part, the AGF, in a counter-affidavit sworn on 11 September by Oni Michael, an administrative officer in the Federal Ministry of Justice, also asked the court to dismiss the suit.

Mr Michael stated that the AGF had no responsibility to arrest and/or detain any person suspected of committing any crime, including Mr El-Rufai, and does not maintain a detention facility.

“That the alleged infringement of the applicant’s right was not done by the 3rd respondent in any way whatsoever as he is not responsible for the maintenance and control of the 1st and 2nd respondents’ detention facility,” he said.

He said the AGF was not part of the alleged events of 7 July and at no time denied Mr El-Rufai’s family members access to him.

According to him, the order of Judge R.M. Aikawa of the Federal High Court in Kaduna solely directed the ICPC and its chairman to allow El-Rufai access to his counsel and personal physician, and did not include access to Aichatou Asabe or any other person.

“That the 1st and 2nd respondents are empowered to put in place protocols within their facilities to prevent breach of security,” he said, adding that maintenance of serious security protocols at the ICPC’s detention facility is a matter of national security.

Both respondents urged the court, presided over by Judge Chigozie Onah, to dismiss the N1 billion suit.

Source: Premium Times NG