A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has adjourned the one billion Naira rights suit filed by former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, and others until October 27, 2026, for definite hearing. The suit was adjourned to allow counsel to the former governor, Akinyemi Aremu, to respond to the counter affidavit filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, opposing the claims.
The case was brought before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, who granted a leave to the AGF's counsel, Mrs Maimuna Lami-Shiru, to move their motion seeking an extension of time to deem their counter affidavit as being properly filed and served. El-Rufai's lawyer, Aremu, and the ICPC counsel did not oppose the application. The former governor is demanding N1 billion in damages against ICPC, the Inspector-General of Police, and the AGF.
El-Rufai had sued the ICPC, the Chief Magistrate at the Magistrate's Court of the FCT, Abuja, the I-G, and the AGF as 1st to 4th respondents respectively. However, he dropped the name of the magistrate from the case following his inability to specify the name of the magistrate who was sued as 2nd respondent. The ex-governor's suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026, dated and filed Feb. 20, sought seven reliefs.
In the suit, El-Rufai prayed the court to declare that the invasion and search of his residence at House 12, Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja, on Feb. 19, amounts to a gross violation of his fundamental rights. He claimed that it was a violation of his dignity of the human person, personal liberty, fair hearing, and privacy under Sections 34, 35, 36, and 37 of the Constitution.
The ICPC, in its counter affidavit, said it received a petition against El-Rufai and acting on the petition, it commenced an investigation, leading to the search at his residence. The commission argued that its operatives acted under a valid search warrant issued on Feb. 18 and executed on Feb. 19 between 1:37pm and 3:56pm at 12 Mambilla Street, Asokoro, Abuja.
The ICPC listed items allegedly recovered from El-Rufai's residence and urged the court to dismiss the suit. The police, in its counter affidavit, deposed to by Insp Ewa Anthony, argued that it had the statutory power to detect, arrest, investigate, and prosecute offenders. The police insisted that the search carried out at El-Rufai's residence was executed pursuant to a search warrant issued by a competent court of law.
The court will hear the case on October 27, 2026. The ICPC and police counter affidavits disputed El-Rufai's claims, arguing that their actions were lawful and that the ex-governor is trying to use the court to shield himself from security investigation and prosecution.
Key points
- The court adjourned the N1 billion rights suit filed by El-Rufai against ICPC and others until October 27, 2026.
- El-Rufai is demanding N1 billion in damages against ICPC, the I-G, and the AGF.
- The ICPC and police have disputed El-Rufai's claims, arguing that their actions were lawful.
