The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday postponed the hearing of 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 other parties until March 25.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjourned the case to enable all parties involved to properly regularise their court processes.
Applesbite International Magazine reports that El-Rufai is seeking N1 billion in damages from 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 Federal Ministry of Justice Nigeria represented by the Attorney-General of the Federation.
During Wednesday’s proceedings, El-Rufai’s lawyer, Ubong Akpan, informed the court that although the matter was scheduled for hearing, the legal team had only recently filed a response to the ICPC’s counter-affidavit and had yet to reply to the police’s submission.
Lawyers representing the ICPC and the police, Abdulsufiano Abubakar and Ezekiel Rimamsomte, respectively, confirmed the development.
Following this, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter to March 25 for hearing and directed that hearing notices be served on the second and fourth respondents — the Chief Magistrate and the Attorney-General of the Federation — who were absent from court.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026, filed on February 20 by senior advocate Oluwole Iyamu, El-Rufai is asking the court to declare that the search of his residence on Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja, by ICPC operatives and police officers on February 19 violated his constitutional 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 Nigerian Constitution.
The former governor also asked the court to rule that any evidence obtained during the search should be declared inadmissible in any legal proceedings against him, on the grounds that it was allegedly obtained through an unlawful warrant.
In addition, El-Rufai is seeking an injunction preventing the respondents from relying on any items seized during the operation and an order compelling the authorities to return all materials taken from his residence along with a full inventory.
He further requested N1 billion as general, exemplary, and aggravated damages.
However, the ICPC, in its counter-affidavit, maintained that the search was carried out legally after receiving a petition against the former governor. The commission stated that its operatives acted on a valid search warrant issued on February 18 and executed the following day between 1:37 p.m. and 3:56 p.m.
According to the agency, the operation was conducted in the presence of El-Rufai’s wife, Hadiza El-Rufai, and his son, Mohammed El-Rufai.
The police also argued that the search was carried out under a lawful court order and that officers followed due procedures while executing the warrant.
They urged the court to dismiss the suit, alleging that the former governor was attempting to use the court process to obstruct ongoing investigations.
