Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has instituted a ₦1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Inspector General of Police, and two other officials over what he described as an unlawful search of his Abuja residence.
The suit, filed on February 20, 2026, before the Federal High Court and marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026, lists the ICPC as the first respondent, the Chief Magistrate of the Magistrate’s Court of the Federal Capital Territory as the second respondent, the Inspector General of Police as the third respondent, and the Attorney General of the Federation as the fourth respondent.
El-Rufai is asking the court to declare the search of his home illegal and unconstitutional.
According to court filings, he alleged that on February 19, 2026, ICPC operatives, accompanied by police officers, stormed his residence at House 12, Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja, around 2:00 p.m. He contended that the operation was based on a flawed search warrant issued on February 4, 2026, which his legal team described as containing significant errors and failing to meet statutory requirements.
Through his counsel, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, the former governor argued that the warrant did not clearly specify the items to be seized, contained typographical and factual mistakes, and was overly broad and ambiguous.
He further maintained that the warrant was issued without probable cause, contrary to the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, the ICPC Act 2000, and the 1999 Constitution, which guarantee rights to dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing, and privacy.
El-Rufai also alleged that officers confiscated personal documents and electronic devices during the search without issuing an inventory or returning the items. He claimed the incident caused him humiliation, psychological distress, and reputational harm.
Among the reliefs sought are an order directing the respondents to return all seized property, an injunction preventing the use of materials obtained during the search, ₦1 billion in damages, and an additional ₦100 million to cover litigation costs.
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