JamzNG Latest News, Gist, Entertainment in Nigeria
The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Crimes Commission (ICPC) permission to tender parts of CCTV recordings in a P10 billion fundamental rights case brought by former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai.
Justice Chigozie Onah, ruling on separate applications filed on Thursday by the anti-corruption agency and the former governor, limited both sides to 20 minutes each to demonstrate relevant sections of the footage in open court.
The judge refused El-Rufai’s request to play the entire recording, which lasted more than six hours, publicly.
The court limits CCTV presentations to 20 minutes each
Justice Onah said the court cannot spend several hours watching the full recording when shorter portions could be presented to address the issues in dispute.
The court also took into account safety concerns raised by the ICPC regarding the potential exposure of sensitive areas within its facility.
The commission’s lawyer, Yetunde Mosunmola, had argued that public viewing of the entire footage could reveal security measures on the agency’s premises.
The judge accepted that concern and indicated that any need to examine the full footage could be considered in a narrower context.
Both parties were then allowed to select the relevant parts to present within the allotted time.
Judge rejects request to question ICPC officials
The court also rejected El-Rufai’s request to compel two ICPC officials involved in the preparation or certification of evidence to appear for cross-examination.
Justice Onah explained that fundamental rights proceedings are generally determined on the basis of affidavit evidence.
He then refused a request to question the officials in open court.
The judge also rejected the other findings requested by the former governor in the precautionary application.
The ruling was about how evidence would be presented and did not determine the substantive charges in the case.
El-Rufai seeks ₦10 billion for allegedly denying access to family
El-Rufai initiated a fundamental rights action against the ICPC, its president, Musa Aliyu, and the Attorney General of the Federation.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1852/2026, was filed through his lawyer, Ubong Akpan.
The former governor is seeking P10 billion in damages over allegations that the commission unlawfully prevented his wife, Aichatou Asabe, and son, Abba El-Rufai, from visiting him while he was in custody.
He argued that the restrictions violated the rights protected by the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
The former governor asked the court to make declarations and orders regarding his treatment while in prison.
ICPC defends restrictions on family visits
In its response, the ICPC denied any wrongdoing and argued that El-Rufai was detained pursuant to a lawful court order.
A commission official, John Uche, said in an affidavit that the restrictions on some visits were due to alleged security incidents on the agency’s premises.
According to the commission, a medical visit involving El-Rufai and his wife on July 7, 2026 became a political meeting contrary to security procedures.
The agency said it subsequently introduced temporary measures to control access while it examined the situation.
The ICPC further alleged that El-Rufai’s wife had entered its premises outside authorized visiting hours on July 4 with the assistance of some staff members.
The alleged incident resulted in disciplinary action against the officers involved.
These statements are part of the commission’s defense and have not been established as judicial findings in the substantive case.
Controversy over the accident involving El-Rufai’s son
Another controversial issue concerns events involving El-Rufai’s son Abba, who reportedly attempted to visit his father on 7 July.
The ICPC report states that Abba engaged in unusual behavior near a sewer after being denied entry.
El-Rufai disputed this account.
He claimed further CCTV footage would show his son being forcibly moved and his leg trapped near the gutter.
The former governor argued that the selected footage provided by the commission did not present the complete sequence of events.
The opposing descriptions of the incident are among the factual disputes the court should consider.
Because El-Rufai wanted the complete CCTV recordings
El-Rufai asked the court to order the commission to produce complete, unedited records covering specific periods of June and July 2026.
He also requested visitor logs, entry and exit records and other documents relating to visits by his family members.
His lawyers argued that the three clips presented by the ICPC were selective and could not establish what happened before and after the recorded events.
The former governor also requested permission to question the officials responsible for the registrations and their certification.
He argued that withholding relevant material could justify an adverse inference under the Evidence Act.
The ICPC opposed the requests, insisting that the selected footage was relevant and that full public disclosure could create security risks.
The ICPC identifies three CCTV segments
The commission said the footage presented to the court contained three segments relating to the disputed incidents that occurred on its premises.
The clips were described as involving a fight, the removal of El-Rufai’s son from the area and an alleged unauthorized entry.
According to the ICPC, the recordings would help the court assess the sequence of events and the conduct of the people involved.
The commission also asked for permission to use audiovisual equipment to demonstrate the clips.
Judge Onah granted limited permission for the film to be shown, rejecting a request for an extended public screening.
The Court adjourns the case to November 3
Following the ruling, Justice Onah adjourned the matter to 3 November 2026, 1pm, for a final hearing on the substantive applications.
The next hearing is expected to address outstanding fundamental rights issues.
The case centers on the legality of restrictions imposed on family visits during El-Rufai’s detention and whether the former governor is entitled to damages and other compensation sought.
For now, the court has only ruled on how to present the disputed CCTV evidence.
Neither El-Rufai’s allegations nor the ICPC’s competing position have been conclusively determined in the substantive proceedings.
