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By Correspondent in Abuja.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday adjourned the 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 other respondents until March 25.
The case, which seeks ₦1 billion in damages, was adjourned by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik to enable the parties in the suit regularise their processes.
El-Rufai had dragged the ICPC, the Chief Magistrate of the Magistrate Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Nigeria Police Force through the Inspector-General of Police, and the Federal Ministry of Justice (Nigeria) represented by the Attorney-General of the Federation before the court over the search of his Abuja residence.
At the resumed sitting, the counsel to the former governor, Ubong Akpan, told the court that the matter was scheduled for hearing but explained that his legal team had only recently filed a response to the ICPC’s counter-affidavit and had yet to respond to that of the police.
Lawyers representing the ICPC and the police, Abdulsufiano Abubakar and Ezekiel Rimamsomte respectively, confirmed the development.
Following the submissions, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the case to March 25 for hearing and directed that hearing notices be issued and served on the second and fourth respondents, the Chief Magistrate and the Attorney-General of the Federation,who were not represented in court.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026, filed on February 20 by Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, the former governor is seeking seven reliefs from the court.
El-Rufai is challenging the February 19 search of his residence located at House 12, Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja, by operatives of the ICPC and the police, describing the operation as a gross violation of his fundamental rights.
He argued that the search breached his constitutional rights to dignity of the human person, personal liberty, fair hearing and privacy as guaranteed under Sections 34, 35, 36 and 37 of the 1999 Constitution.
Among the reliefs sought, the former governor asked the court to declare that any evidence obtained during the search is inadmissible in any proceedings against him, on the grounds that it was allegedly procured in violation of constitutional safeguards.
He is also asking the court to restrain the respondents from relying on or tendering any item seized during the operation in any investigation or prosecution involving him.
In addition, El-Rufai is seeking an order directing the ICPC and the police to immediately return all items allegedly taken from his residence, along with a detailed inventory.
He further prayed the court to award ₦1 billion as general, exemplary and aggravated damages.
However, in its counter-affidavit, the ICPC told the court that its action followed a petition against the former governor.
The anti-corruption agency said it obtained a valid search warrant on February 18 and executed it the following day between 1:37 pm and 3:56 pm at El-Rufai’s Asokoro residence.
According to the commission, its operatives conducted the search in the presence of the former governor’s wife, Hadiza El‑Rufai, and his son, Mohammed El-Rufai, while accompanied by officers of the Nigeria Police Force.
The commission also listed items it said were recovered during the operation and urged the court to dismiss the suit.
Similarly, the police, in a counter-affidavit deposed to by Inspector Ewa Anthony, maintained that the force acted within its statutory powers to investigate and prosecute alleged offenders.
The police argued that the search of El-Rufai’s residence was carried out in compliance with a valid court-issued warrant and all applicable legal procedures.
It further told the court that the former governor was attempting to use the judicial process to shield himself from a legitimate security investigation and possible prosecution.
The police therefore urged the court to dismiss the suit in its entirety.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
