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 postponed the case to enable all parties properly regularise their court processes.
El-Rufai is seeking ₦1 billion in damages in the suit filed against the ICPC, the Chief Magistrate of the Magistrate’s Court of the FCT, the Nigeria Police Force represented by the Inspector-General of Police, and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
At the hearing, El-Rufai’s lawyer, Ubong Akpan, told the court that although the case was scheduled for hearing, the legal team had only just responded to the ICPC’s counter-affidavit and had yet to reply to that of the police. Lawyers representing the ICPC and the police, Abdulsufiano Abubakar and Ezekiel Rimamsomte, confirmed the submission.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the matter to March 25 and directed that hearing notices be issued and served on the Chief Magistrate and the Attorney-General of the Federation, who were absent in court.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026 and filed on February 20 by senior lawyer Oluwole Iyamu (SAN), El-Rufai is asking the court to declare that the February 19 search of his residence at No. 12 Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja by ICPC officials and police officers violated his fundamental rights.
He argued that the operation breached his rights to dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing and privacy as guaranteed under Sections 34, 35, 36 and 37 of the Constitution. He also urged the court to rule that any evidence obtained during the search should be inadmissible in any proceedings against him.
The former governor further asked the court to restrain the respondents from using any items recovered during the search and to order the immediate return of all materials seized from his home, alongside a detailed inventory.
However, in a counter-affidavit, the ICPC said it acted on a petition against El-Rufai and launched an investigation that led to the search of his residence.
The commission maintained that its operatives carried out the operation under a valid search warrant issued on February 18 and executed the following day between 1:37pm and 3:56pm at his Asokoro residence.
According to the agency, the search was conducted in the presence of El-Rufai’s wife, Hadiza El‑Rufai, and his son, Mohammed El‑Rufai, with officers of the Nigeria Police Force also present.
The ICPC therefore asked the court to dismiss the suit.
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