By Desire Emmanuel
Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai and his family have demanded another N15.6 billion in damages from the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC), its chairman and other officers over his arrest, detention and what they described as untrue public statements issued against him.
The demand follows claims by the commission that “wiretapping equipment” was discovered in El-Rufai’s residence.
In a letter dated March 4, El-Rufai’s legal team described a March 2 press statement issued by the ICPC as defamatory and misleading, insisting that it caused serious reputational damage to the former governor.
In a formal legal notice issued by his legal team, the former governor accused the commission of actions that allegedly violated his fundamental rights. He therefore made demands as follows:
– N5 billion as compensatory damages
N5 billion as exemplary and punitive damages intended to deter similar conduct
N5 billion as aggravated damages
N500 million for injurious falsehood
N100 million as cost of legal action
El-Rufai’s lawyers gave the commission 24 hours to comply with the demands, failing which they said further legal steps would be taken.
These include filing contempt proceedings against the ICPC Chairman at the Federal High Court, accelerating the pending fundamental rights enforcement and bail applications at the FCT High Court, and initiating civil suits for malicious prosecution, false imprisonment, defamation, and abuse of office.
The legal team also threatened to report the alleged forgery of a remand order for criminal investigation, petition the FCT Judicial Service Commission for disciplinary action against the magistrate involved, and file a complaint before the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights over alleged violations of his fundamental rights.
