Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking an order restraining the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and other agencies from freezing his bank accounts or seizing his properties.
In a suit filed by his counsel, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, El-Rufai is asking the court to grant an interim injunction directing the respondents to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of the substantive matter.
Besides the ICPC, other respondents in the suit include the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
In the originating process marked FHC/ABJ/CS/368/2026 and filed on Feb. 24, the former governor is seeking eight reliefs from the court.
He is asking for a declaration that his severance pay, received after completing his tenure as governor between 2015 and 2023, cannot reasonably be suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity. He also seeks a declaration that properties acquired from the severance pay were lawfully obtained.
El-Rufai listed accounts held with Zenith Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and Access Bank Plc, and urged the court to restrain the respondents from applying for or executing any interim or final forfeiture, freezing or seizure orders on the accounts without establishing reasonable suspicion backed by credible evidence.
He cited Section 17(1) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, as well as the Supreme Court decision in Melrose General Services Ltd v. EFCC (2024) in support of his application.
The former governor is also seeking a declaration affirming his constitutional right to presumption of innocence and fair hearing under Section 36(5) of the Constitution. He argued that any ex-parte application seeking to freeze his assets without full disclosure of material facts would violate his fundamental rights.
El-Rufai further prayed the court to grant a perpetual injunction restraining the respondents from interfering with his assets and bank accounts.
Additionally, he is asking for N1 billion as general, exemplary and aggravated damages for the anticipated violation of his rights and alleged reputational harm, as well as N100 million as cost of the action.
In the grounds supporting his application, El-Rufai stated that he served as Director-General of the Federal Privatisation Agency (1999–2003), Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (2003–2007), and Governor of Kaduna State (2015–2023).
He maintained that he had never been convicted of any criminal offence and that his severance pay, calculated at 300 per cent of his annual basic salary in line with the Pension and Gratuity (Governor and Deputy Governor) Law of Kaduna State, was a lawful entitlement.
He argued that any attempt to freeze or forfeit his assets without credible evidence linking them to unlawful activity would be baseless and unconstitutional, adding that he is willing to cooperate with any lawful investigation conducted in accordance with due process.