Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has filed a fresh lawsuit seeking to prevent Nigeria’s anti-corruption and security agencies from freezing his bank accounts or seizing his properties. The suit, lodged at the Federal High Court in Abuja on February 24, targets the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the State Security Service (SSS), along with the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
El-Rufai, through his lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Oluwole Iyamu, is requesting an interim injunction to maintain the “status quo ante” pending the resolution of his case. He argues that any forfeiture or freezing orders would be unlawful without prior establishment of reasonable suspicion supported by credible evidence, citing the Advance Fee Fraud Act and a 2024 Supreme Court precedent. The former governor asserts his right to the presumption of innocence and a fair hearing, contending that ex-parte applications concealing material facts would violate constitutional safeguards.
The filing is the latest in a series of legal challenges El-Rufai has initiated since his return from Cairo on February 12, when security agents reportedly attempted to arrest him at the airport. He was detained by the EFCC on February 16 for questioning regarding alleged corruption during his governorship (2015–2023). After his release on bail, the ICPC rearrested him on February 18. While in custody, the SSS filed charges against him for allegedly intercepting a phone call of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu—a claim El-Rufai made publicly, linking it to his attempted arrest. His arraignment on those charges, scheduled for February 19, was postponed because the ICPC did not produce him in court; the matter is now set for April 23.
In the current suit, El-Rufai specifically lists five bank accounts with Zenith Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, and Access Bank. He seeks declarations that his severance pay—received as a former governor under Kaduna State law—and properties purchased with those funds are lawful. He also demands N1 billion in damages for alleged rights violations, psychological distress, and reputational harm, plus N100 million in legal costs.
El-Rufai’s legal team argues he has “clean hands” and is willing to cooperate with any lawful investigation. They contend the agencies’ actions are baseless, as the severance package is a statutory entitlement with no credible evidence linking it to unlawful activity.
This lawsuit follows other recent filings. On February 20, El-Rufai sued the ICPC and others over a raid on his Abuja residence, challenging the validity of the search warrant. He has also applied to quash the SSS phone-tapping charges, describing them as an abuse of process.
El-Rufai, who left the ruling All Progressives Congress for the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) last year, frames the agencies’ scrutiny as political persecution by President Bola Tinubu’s administration. He cites similar experiences faced by other ADC figures, such as former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami, who faces money laundering charges. The EFCC has previously stated that political affiliation does not grant immunity from investigation.
The court’s upcoming decisions on these injunctions and the April arraignment will test the boundaries of executive power and legal due process in Nigeria’s heightened political climate.
