Court Fixes June 17 For Hearing Of El-Rufai’s ₦1 Billion Suit Against ICPC

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday fixed June 17 to hear a N1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over an alleged unlawful raid on his residence.

.....

El-Rufai, who served as Kaduna governor between 2015 and 2023 and earlier as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory under former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, challenged the legality of the search warrant used by the anti-graft agency to search his Abuja home.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026, El-Rufai asked the court to declare that the search warrant dated February 4, issued by a Chief Magistrate of the FCT Magistrate’s Court, was invalid.

The former governor argued that the warrant authorising the search and seizure of items from his residence was “invalid, null, and void.”

He also contended that the warrant was legally defective due to “material drafting errors, ambiguity in execution parameters, overbreadth, and absence of probable cause,” which he said made the search unconstitutional.

El-Rufai insisted the operation violated his constitutional rights to dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing, and privacy under Sections 34, 35, 36, and 37 of the Constitution.

During Tuesday’s proceedings, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik granted an application by the former governor to remove the Chief Magistrate of the FCT Magistrate’s Court, who was initially listed as the second defendant in the case.

Counsel to the applicant, Ugochukwu Nnakwu, explained that the magistrate was dropped because the suit did not specify the particular judicial officer involved.

“In view of this development, we urge My Lord to strike out the name of the second defendant as a party in this suit,”

the lawyer told the court.

Lawyers representing the police, the Attorney-General of the Federation, and the ICPC did not oppose the application, after which the judge struck out the magistrate’s name from the case.

ICPC Raises An Objection

However, counsel to the ICPC, Abdul Mohammed (SAN), argued that removing the magistrate from the case effectively undermined the entire suit since most of the reliefs sought were based on the search warrant issued by the magistrate.

The judge dismissed the objection, stating that the anti-graft agency was free to file a counter-affidavit and contest the claims in court.

In the suit, El-Rufai asked the court to award ₦1 billion as general, exemplary, and aggravated damages for what he described as unlawful search, seizure, and violation of his fundamental rights.

He also requested that the court declare any evidence obtained during the search inadmissible in any future proceedings, arguing that it was secured through an unconstitutional process.

The former governor further sought an order compelling the ICPC and the Inspector-General of Police to return all items seized from his Abuja residence.

The anti-corruption agency had earlier secured court permission to examine about 14 electronic devices allegedly recovered from El-Rufai’s residence during the search.

The items reportedly include several storage devices, mobile phones, flash drives, and a laptop computer.

Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the case until June 17 for a hearing.