Disgraced former Labor minister Eddie Obeid is suing the state of NSW, the former head of the state’s corruption watchdog and the lawyer who questioned him during inquiries into his dealings while an MP.

Lawyers representing Obeid and his sons Moses, Paul and Edward junior filed a statement of claim in the Supreme Court in Sydney yesterday against David Ipp QC, the former head of the ICAC.

The claim also singled out Geoffrey Watson SC and another seven ICAC officers.

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In May, Obeid and former colleague Ian Macdonald pleaded not guilty to charges of corruption that arose out of investigations by the ICAC.

Mr Watson said he first heard about the court action against him late yesterday afternoon and that journalists had received a copy of the statement of claim before he had.

He said the 61-page document claimed that he and eight of his current or former colleagues “engaged in misfeasance in public office”.

The document said Mr Watson behaved in “an aggressive, threatening and intimidating manner” while questioning Obeid.

It also said he “made sarcastic comments” towards Obeid and “hectored and bullied” him.

“I was looking at it while I was watching the cricket so it has only been part-time, but from what I’ve seen, I’ve seen the allegations, it’s rubbish,” Mr Watson said.

“In effect, [they are saying] that we were misusing our public office or misusing the powers which have been given to us.”

Mr Watson told the ABC the allegations were “contemptible” and a disgraceful attack on honest investigators.

“I’m worried about those decent, hard-working and really honest people, the ICAC officers who’ve been dragged into this,” he said.

“This is a woeful piece of work, although can I say my family has told me I’m being uncharitable that it’s obvious the Obeids are in a bad place and maybe they’ve been driven to a bit — maybe they’re desperate.

“I’m looking forward to going to court.”

Mr Watson, however, said he would only be going to court to defend himself, not as an observer at Obeid’s upcoming trial.

“No, I won’t be there. I’ll be out earning an honest quid in some other court,” he said.

Obeid declined to comment when contacted by the ABC.