A suit filed by former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and four other respondents has been adjourned by the Federal High Court in Abuja until March 25.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjourned the matter on Wednesday to allow the parties involved to regularise their court processes.
El-Rufai is seeking ₦1 billion in damages against the ICPC, the Chief Magistrate of the Magistrate Court of the Federal Capital Territory, the Nigeria Police Force through the Inspector-General of Police, and the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Proceedings in court
During Wednesday’s hearing, El-Rufai’s counsel Ubong Akpan informed the court that the matter was scheduled for hearing, but the applicant had only recently responded to the ICPC’s counter-affidavit and had yet to file a reply to that of the police.
Lawyers representing the ICPC and the police confirmed the development.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the case and ordered that hearing notices be served on the Chief Magistrate and the Attorney-General, who were not represented in court.
Details of the suit
El-Rufai filed the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026, on February 20 through his lawyer, Oluwole Iyamu.
In the application, the former governor asked the court to declare that the search of his residence at 12 Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja, on February 19 by officials of the ICPC and police officers violated his constitutional rights.
He argued that the action breached his rights to dignity, liberty, fair hearing, and privacy under Sections 34, 35, 36, and 37 of the Nigerian Constitution.
El-Rufai is also seeking a declaration that any evidence obtained during the search cannot be used in any legal proceedings against him.
Additionally, he requested an order restraining the respondents from using items seized from his residence in any investigation or prosecution and asked the court to compel the ICPC and police to return the items and provide a list of what was taken.
ICPC’s response
In its counter-affidavit, the ICPC said it had received a petition against the former governor and had begun an investigation.
The commission stated that it obtained a search warrant issued on February 18 and executed the search the following day between 1:37 p.m. and 3:56 p.m. at El-Rufai’s residence.
According to the anti-corruption agency, its officers were accompanied by police personnel, and the search was witnessed by El-Rufai’s wife, Hadiza El-Rufai, and his son, Mohammed El-Rufai.
The commission asked the court to dismiss the suit, maintaining that the search was conducted lawfully.
