The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday adjourned a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by a former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and four other respondents until March 25.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjourned the case to enable the parties in the matter regularise their processes before the hearing.
When the case was called, counsel to El-Rufai, Ubong Akpan, informed the court that the matter had been scheduled for hearing.
However, he told the court that the applicant had only just filed a response to the counter-affidavit submitted by the ICPC and had yet to respond to the submission by the Inspector-General of Police.
Lawyers representing the ICPC and the police, Abdulsufiano Abubakar and Ezekiel Rimamsomte respectively, confirmed Akpan’s submission.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the matter to March 25 for hearing.
The judge also ordered that the second respondent, the Chief Magistrate of the Magistrate’s Court of the Federal Capital Territory, and the fourth respondent, the Attorney-General of the Federation, who were absent in court, be issued and served hearing notices.
Naija News reports that El-Rufai is seeking ₦1 billion in damages against the ICPC, the Chief Magistrate of the FCT Magistrate’s Court, the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026 and filed on February 20 by his counsel, Oluwole Iyamu (SAN), the former governor sought seven reliefs from the court.
He asked the court to declare that the invasion and search of his residence at House 12, Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja, on February 19 at about 2pm by operatives of the ICPC and the police violated his fundamental rights.
According to him, the action infringed on his rights to dignity of the human person, personal liberty, fair hearing and privacy as guaranteed under Sections 34, 35, 36 and 37 of the Constitution.
El-Rufai also urged the court to declare that any evidence obtained from the search should be declared inadmissible.
He argued that such evidence was procured through an unlawful search carried out in breach of constitutional safeguards.
He further prayed the court to restrain the respondents from relying on or tendering any items seized during the operation in any investigation or prosecution against him.
The former governor also sought an order directing the ICPC and the Inspector-General of Police to return all items taken from his residence during the search, alongside a detailed inventory.
In addition, he requested the court to award him N1bn as general, exemplary and aggravated damages.
In its counter-affidavit, the ICPC told the court that it received a petition against El-Rufai and subsequently commenced an investigation.
The commission said the investigation led to the search conducted at the former governor’s residence.
It maintained that the operation was carried out under a valid search warrant issued on February 18 and executed the following day between 1:37pm and 3:56pm at 12 Mambilla Street, Asokoro, Abuja.
The commission added that its operatives were accompanied by personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and that the search was witnessed by El-Rufai’s wife, Hadiza El-Rufai, and his son, Mohammed El-Rufai.
The ICPC urged the court to dismiss the suit and listed items allegedly recovered during the search.
The police, in a counter-affidavit deposed to by Inspector Ewa Anthony, also defended the operation. It argued that the force had the statutory authority to detect, arrest, investigate and prosecute offenders.
According to the police, the search at El-Rufai’s residence was conducted based on a search warrant issued by a competent court.
The police insisted that the warrant was valid and that officers involved in the operation complied with all legal procedures.
It further argued that the former governor was attempting to use the court to shield himself from an ongoing security investigation and possible prosecution.
The police therefore urged the court to dismiss the suit in its entirety.
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