Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has filed a private criminal complaint at a Magistrate Court in Abuja, alleging unlawful detention and attempts by top officials to restrict his political rights.
The complaint targets senior officials of Nigeria’s anti-corruption and security agencies, accusing them of illegally holding him and conditioning his release on political compliance.
In the 30-page filing, El-Rufai named the chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Musa Adamu Aliyu, as well as the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, among other unnamed officials across three different categories within the agencies.
The suit claims that their actions represent a direct violation of El-Rufai’s constitutional rights and constitute unlawful detention.
According to the filing, El-Rufai voluntarily reported to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on February 16, 2026, providing a detailed statement and fully cooperating with investigators.
Administrative bail was granted to him, and he was expected to fulfil certain conditions.
However, before he could complete the process, DSS operatives allegedly intervened on the instruction of the agency’s leadership and transferred him from EFCC custody to the ICPC on the night of February 18, 2026.
The former governor claims this act was executed without legal authority, constituting a clear case of unlawful detention.
The complaint further highlights that the legal justification for his continued detention—a remand order issued on February 19 by a Magistrate Court in Bwari—was invalid.
El-Rufai contends that the court lacked jurisdiction, as allegations related to money laundering fall under the exclusive domain of the Federal High Court.
He added that neither he nor his legal representatives were formally served with the remand order, and that the 14-day detention period granted by the order expired on March 4, 2026.
Consequently, he maintains that any detention beyond that date is entirely without legal basis, reinforcing the charge of unlawful detention.
One of the most serious allegations in the complaint concerns political coercion.
El-Rufai asserts that ICPC officials communicated to him that his release would be conditional upon withdrawing from political activities and refraining from participating in the political process.
“During the period of his unlawful detention, the Complainant was informed by officers of the ICPC that his release is conditional upon abandoning political participation,” the filing states.
He argues that this constitutes an illegal attempt to curtail his constitutional rights and unduly influence his political engagement.
The filing also details other restrictions placed on him during detention. El-Rufai claims he was held incommunicado, with limited access to family members and lawyers.
Additionally, he alleges that he was denied access to personal medical practitioners despite having pre-existing health conditions, raising serious concerns about the conditions of his confinement.
El-Rufai further accused the ICPC chairman of authorising and supervising his continued detention even though the remand order was invalid.
Similarly, the DSS Director-General was described as having played a central role in orchestrating the transfer from EFCC custody.
According to the complaint, both actions constitute gross violations of the law and represent serious breaches of administrative and criminal procedure.
The suit lists two primary counts against the accused: wrongful confinement under Section 264 of the Penal Code and wrongful restraint under Sections 265 and 266.
It urges the court to take cognisance of these offences and issue appropriate legal processes against the responsible officials.
El-Rufai is seeking recognition from the court that the detention was unlawful and aimed at coercing him politically, thereby demanding accountability and redress.
The former governor’s legal team emphasized that his detention amounts to an infringement of fundamental human rights, with the coercion aspect particularly alarming.
According to their submission, threatening to restrict a citizen’s political engagement while holding them in detention violates the principle of free participation in democratic processes.
This, combined with restricted access to legal counsel and family, underscores the severity of the alleged violations.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the ICPC nor the DSS has publicly commented on the allegations.
The case is now set to be heard in Abuja’s Magistrate Court, where the court will determine the validity of the detention and the claims of political coercion.
Legal observers note that the outcome could have significant implications for Nigeria’s anti-corruption and law enforcement processes, particularly concerning the boundaries of agency powers and individual constitutional rights.
In summary, the complaint paints a picture of alleged unlawful detention, coercion to abandon politics, restricted access to legal and medical support, and potential abuse of agency authority.
El-Rufai’s suit underscores the tension between law enforcement discretion and constitutional safeguards, and it seeks formal judicial intervention to hold the accused officials accountable.
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