The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s N1 billion fundamental rights suit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik fixed October 27 for definite hearing of the case after the AGF’s counsel, Maimuna Lami-Shiru, informed the court that a counter affidavit had been filed in opposition to El-Rufai’s claims.
Lami-Shiru also sought an extension of time for the AGF’s counter affidavit to be deemed properly filed and served. Lawyers representing El-Rufai, the police and ICPC did not oppose the application, which the judge subsequently granted.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026, arose from a search of El-Rufai’s residence at Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja, on February 19.
El-Rufai is asking the court to declare the search a violation of his constitutional rights to dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing and privacy under Sections 34, 35, 36 and 37 of the Constitution.
He is also challenging the admissibility of materials allegedly recovered during the operation, asking the court to prevent the respondents from using or tendering them in any investigation or proceedings involving him.
The former governor further wants the ICPC and police to return all items seized during the search and provide a detailed inventory. He is seeking N1 billion in general, exemplary and aggravated damages.
ICPC, however, maintains that the operation was carried out lawfully after it received a petition against El-Rufai and commenced an investigation. The commission said a valid search warrant was issued on February 18 and executed the following day between 1:37pm and 3:56pm.
According to the anti-graft agency, police personnel accompanied its operatives during the search, which was witnessed by El-Rufai’s wife, Hadiza, and his son, Mohammed.
The police similarly argued that the search was conducted pursuant to a warrant issued by a competent court and that its officers acted within their statutory powers to detect, investigate and prosecute offences.
Both ICPC and the police have urged the court to dismiss El-Rufai’s suit, rejecting his contention that the search warrant was invalid.
The case initially included the Chief Magistrate of the Magistrate’s Court of the Federal Capital Territory as a respondent. The magistrate was later removed after El-Rufai could not identify the individual magistrate named in the suit.
Court adjourns El-Rufai’s N1bn rights suit against ICPC, police, AGF
