Abuja, Nigeria – Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, former Governor of Kaduna State, has filed a private criminal complaint against officials of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), alleging that he was wrongfully confined and pressured to withdraw from political activities as a condition for his release. The complaint, spanning 30 pages, was filed in the Magistrate Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Holden at Bwari, Abuja, under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, and the Penal Code.
The complaint names ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (1st Accused Person), Mr. Abdula Salisu (2nd Accused Person) of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Osiobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha (3rd Accused Person), and two other ICPC officials as accused.
According to Paragraph 12 of the criminal complaint, El-Rufai states that during his detention, ICPC officers, allegedly acting on the authority of the commission’s chairman, informed him that his release was conditional on “ceasing all political activities” and refraining from participating in the political process. He views this as an unlawful attempt to compel him to abandon his constitutional rights.
Further details are provided in the affidavit supporting the complaint, particularly in Paragraphs 22 to 24, where El-Rufai’s counsel stated that the former governor was repeatedly told that continued political activity would prolong his detention and that only a commitment to withdraw from politics would secure his release.
The allegation forms the basis of Count Six in the complaint, accusing the officials of wrongful confinement with intent to compel, an offense cited under Sections 264 and 267 of the Penal Code.
Additionally, the complaint includes Count One: Wrongful Confinement, alleging that the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th accused persons wrongfully confined El-Rufai on or about the night of 18th February 2026, and continued thereafter, by rendering him from EFCC custody to the ICPC custody without lawful justification. This count refers to Section 264 of the Penal Code Act. Count Two: Wrongful Restraint is also cited under Sections 264 and 267 of the Penal Code Act.
El-Rufai is asking the court to examine the conduct of the ICPC officials, arguing that their alleged actions represent an abuse of office and an unlawful attempt to restrict his participation in the political process. The ICPC has not yet publicly responded to the claims contained in the court filing.
