El-Rufai’s Wife Takes ICPC To Court, Seeks ₦2 Billion In Damages Over Alleged Defamation

Aichatou El-Rufai, wife of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has initiated legal proceedings against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over alleged defamatory statements.

According to Ireporter Online, the development followed a pre-action notice issued through her legal representatives to the ICPC chairman, in which she is demanding ₦2 billion in damages over claims contained in a press release dated May 18, 2026.

The disputed publication, titled “Clarification on the Access Control Protocol at ICPC Headquarters, Abuja,” was issued by the commission’s spokesperson, J. Okor Odey. Her legal team argued that portions of the statement were damaging, embarrassing, and injurious to her reputation.

The lawyers specifically faulted the description of Mrs El-Rufai as a woman who identified herself as the wife of a defendant, insisting the wording cast doubt on her lawful status as the former governor’s wife and subjected her to public ridicule.

They also challenged the commission’s assertion that her earlier statements were false and misleading, describing the claim as defamatory and capable of portraying her as dishonest in the eyes of the public.

Furthermore, the legal team rejected allegations that she breached visitation protocols at the ICPC headquarters in Abuja, arguing that such claims wrongly portrayed her as someone who disregards official procedures.

They also took issue with suggestions that she contradicted herself regarding reports that her husband was denied food while in custody, maintaining that the remarks damaged her credibility and personal integrity.

The notice also dismissed claims that her actions were intended to attract media attention or circumvent official procedures, describing the insinuation as unfair and reputationally harmful.

Her lawyers stated that the publication had been widely circulated across both local and international media platforms, exposing her to public embarrassment, ridicule, and reputational damage.

Describing her as a private citizen with an unblemished record, the legal team accused the ICPC of using its official platform to make damaging assertions against her.

As part of her demands, she is seeking a public withdrawal of the statements and an apology published in at least three national newspapers, as well as across the commission’s social media channels.

The legal notice also demands ₦2 billion in general, aggravated, and exemplary damages, alongside a written undertaking that the commission will refrain from making similar statements in the future.

The ICPC has been given 14 days to comply with the demands, failing which legal proceedings are expected to commence.