The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday adjourned a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and four others until March 25 for hearing.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjourned the case to enable parties in the suit to regularise their processes.
El-Rufai is demanding N1 billion in damages against the ICPC, the Chief Magistrate at the Magistrate’s Court of the FCT, the Nigeria Police Force through the Inspector-General of Police, and the Attorney-General of the Federation, listed as the first to fourth respondents respectively.
When the matter was called, counsel to El-Rufai, Ubong Akpan, informed the court that the case was scheduled for hearing but noted that the applicant had only responded to the ICPC’s counter-affidavit and had yet to reply to that of the police.
Counsel for the ICPC, Abdulsufiano Abubakar, and police lawyer, Ezekiel Rimamsomte, confirmed the submission.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the case until March 25 for hearing and directed that hearing notices be issued and served on the second and fourth respondents, who were not represented in court.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026 and filed on February 20 by Oluwole Iyamu, El-Rufai is seeking seven reliefs from the court.
He asked the court to declare that the invasion and search of his residence at No. 12 Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja, on February 19 by operatives of the ICPC and the Inspector-General of Police violated his fundamental rights.
According to him, the action breached 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 Nigerian Constitution.
El-Rufai also urged the court to declare that any evidence obtained during the search is inadmissible in any proceeding against him since it was allegedly obtained in violation of constitutional safeguards.
He further sought an order restraining the respondents and their agents from using or relying on items seized during the search in any investigation or prosecution involving him.
The former governor also asked the court to compel the ICPC and the Inspector-General of Police to return all items seized from his residence, along with a detailed inventory.
In addition, he is seeking N1 billion as general, exemplary and aggravated damages.
However, in its counter-affidavit, the ICPC said it acted on a petition against the former governor and subsequently commenced an investigation that led to the search of his residence.
The commission maintained that its operatives carried out the search under a valid warrant issued on February 18 and executed on February 19 between 1:37 p.m. and 3:56 p.m. at the residence in Asokoro, Abuja.
It added that the operation was conducted in the presence of El-Rufai’s wife, Hadiza El-Rufai, and his son, Mohammed El-Rufai, and accompanied by personnel of the Nigeria Police Force.
The anti-graft agency therefore urged the court to dismiss the suit.
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