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 four others until March 25 for hearing.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik postponed the case to enable the parties involved to regularise their court processes.
El-Rufai is seeking N1 billion in damages against the ICPC, the Chief Magistrate of the Magistrate Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), who are listed as the first to fourth respondents respectively.
When the matter was called, El-Rufai’s counsel, Ubong Akpan, informed the court that the case was scheduled for hearing. However, he explained that while they had responded to the ICPC’s counter-affidavit, they were yet to reply to the one filed by the IGP.
Lawyers for the ICPC and the police, Abdulsufiano Abubakar and Ezekiel Rimamsomte respectively, confirmed Akpan’s statement.
Following the submissions, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the case to March 25 for hearing. She also directed that hearing notices be issued and served on the second respondent (Chief Magistrate) and the fourth respondent (AGF), who were absent in court.
In the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026 and filed on February 20 by Oluwole Iyamu (SAN), El-Rufai is seeking seven reliefs.
He asked the court to declare that the invasion and search of his residence at House 12, Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja, on February 19 at about 2 p.m. by ICPC operatives and the police violated his fundamental rights.
According to him, the action 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 from the search should be deemed inadmissible in any proceedings against him, arguing that it was obtained through an invalid warrant and in violation of constitutional safeguards.
El-Rufai further requested an order restraining the respondents and their agents from relying on or using any items seized during the search in any investigation or prosecution involving him.
He also asked the court to direct the ICPC and the IGP to immediately return all items taken from his residence during the operation, along with a detailed inventory.
Additionally, he is seeking N1 billion as general, exemplary, and aggravated damages.
In response, the ICPC, in its counter-affidavit, stated that it received a petition against El-Rufai and subsequently launched an investigation, which led to the search of his residence.
The commission maintained that its operatives acted based on a valid search warrant issued on February 18 and executed the following day between 1:37 p.m. and 3:56 p.m. at the Asokoro residence.
It added that the operation was carried out alongside personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and was witnessed by El-Rufai’s wife, Hadiza El-Rufai, and his son, Mohammed El-Rufai.
The ICPC therefore urged the court to dismiss the suit.