Alleged Defamation: El-Rufai’s Wife Slams ICPC With N2bn Suit

Aichatou El-Rufai has taken legal steps against the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission over comments linked to the detention of her husband, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

Through her lawyers, she submitted a pre-action notice demanding N2 billion in damages over what she described as defamatory statements contained in an official ICPC publication concerning access control procedures at the commission’s headquarters.

According to the legal notice, the disputed statement was issued after public discussions surrounding access to the former governor while in custody. Her lawyers argued that parts of the publication contained descriptions and claims they considered inaccurate and harmful.

One of the complaints raised by the legal team relates to how the commission referred to her in the statement. The lawyers argued that describing her as a woman who identified herself as the wife of a defendant created doubts about her status and identity as El-Rufai’s lawful spouse.

The legal representatives also challenged the commission’s position that her earlier comments were false or misleading. They argued that such descriptions portrayed her as dishonest and damaged public confidence in her character.

In addition, the notice objected to suggestions that she failed to follow visitation procedures during her appearance at the commission’s office. According to her legal team, such claims wrongly created the impression that she acted outside official rules.

The lawyers further disputed statements that appeared to question her earlier claims regarding food access and conditions surrounding her husband’s detention. They argued that those remarks affected her credibility and public image.

The legal action marks another development in the ongoing events surrounding Nasir El-Rufai’s detention and the public exchanges between his family and the anti-corruption agency. At this stage, the notice serves as a formal step before possible court proceedings if the matter is not resolved.