Aichatou El-Rufai, wife of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has moved against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), demanding ₦2 billion in damages over a press release she says destroyed her reputation.
Through her legal team, Mrs El-Rufai served a pre-action notice on the anti-corruption agency’s chairman, targeting a statement the commission published on May 18, 2026, titled “Clarification on the Access Control Protocol at ICPC Headquarters, Abuja.”
The statement, delivered by commission spokesperson J. Okor Odey, sparked outrage from her lawyers on several grounds. They took particular issue with the commission’s description of her as a woman who “identified herself” as the former governor’s wife — wording they say cast doubt on the legitimacy of their marriage.
Her legal team also objected to the commission labelling her earlier remarks as false and misleading, arguing the characterisation painted her as dishonest before a national and international audience. They further contested allegations that she violated visitation protocols at the Abuja headquarters, saying the claim portrayed her as someone who flouts official rules.
The lawyers additionally pushed back against suggestions that she contradicted herself regarding reports that her husband was being denied food while in detention, arguing those remarks undermined her credibility. They equally rejected insinuations that her actions were a ploy to court media attention and sidestep proper procedures.
According to the notice, the press release spread rapidly across local and foreign media platforms, exposing Mrs El-Rufai to public mockery and causing significant damage to her image. Her lawyers described her as a private citizen with an unblemished public record, accusing the agency of weaponising its official platform against her.
As remedies, the legal team is demanding that ICPC retract the offending statements and publish a formal apology in no fewer than three national newspapers, with the same apology mirrored across the commission’s digital and social media channels. They are also seeking ₦2 billion in general, aggravated and exemplary damages, alongside a written undertaking that the commission will not make similar statements about her in future.
The ICPC has been given 14 days to comply, with the notice warning that civil proceedings will commence immediately upon the deadline’s expiry if the demands go unmet.
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