El-Rufai’s N1bn Lawsuit: Court to Deliver Judgment on December 2

The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled December 2 to deliver judgment in a N1 billion fundamental rights suit instituted by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, against the ICPC, the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General of the Federation.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik announced the date on Tuesday after the parties adopted their court processes.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), El-Rufai’s lawyer, Ubong Akpan, was not present when the case was first called. The judge consequently deemed the former governor’s processes adopted.

Akpan later appeared in court, apologised for his lateness and sought permission to adopt his filings. The judge, however, told him that the documents had already been deemed adopted.

The ICPC’s lawyer, Abdul Mohammed, SAN, alongside ACP Ezekiel Rimamsomte, who represented the Inspector-General of Police, and Mrs Maimuna Lami-Shiru, Director of Civil Litigation and Public Law in the AGF’s office, adopted their respective processes and urged the court to dismiss the case.

Why El-Rufai Is Seeking N1 Billion

El-Rufai filed the suit over the search of his Abuja residence on February 19, alleging that the operation violated his constitutionally protected rights.

The originating motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026, was dated and filed on February 20 by his counsel, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN.

The former governor asked the court to declare that the search of his residence at House 12, Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja, breached his rights to dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing and privacy under Sections 34, 35, 36 and 37 of the Constitution.

He further argued that evidence recovered during the operation should not be used against him, urging the court to declare that “any evidence obtained pursuant to the aforesaid invalid warrant and unlawful search is inadmissible in any proceedings against the applicant, as it was procured in breach of constitutional safeguards.”

Among his requests were an order restraining the respondents from relying on or tendering items seized during the search, an order compelling the return of the items with a detailed inventory, and N1 billion in general, exemplary and aggravated damages.

The suit initially included the Chief Magistrate of the FCT Magistrate’s Court as a respondent. The magistrate was later removed from the case after El-Rufai failed to identify the individual, following an observation by the judge.

ICPC Says Search Followed Investigation

In its response, the ICPC said it received a petition against El-Rufai and launched an investigation that led to the search.

The commission maintained that the operation was conducted under a valid warrant issued on February 18 and executed on February 19 between 1:37 p.m. and 3:56 p.m.

It said its officials were accompanied by police personnel and that the exercise was witnessed by El-Rufai’s wife, Hadiza, and son, Mohammed. The ICPC also identified items it claimed were recovered from the residence and asked the court to dismiss the suit.

The Inspector-General of Police similarly defended the operation, arguing that the search warrant was valid and that his officers acted within the law.

In a counter-affidavit deposed to by Inspector Ewa Anthony, the police chief maintained that he had the statutory authority to detect, arrest, investigate and prosecute offenders. He also accused El-Rufai of attempting to use the court to shield himself from security investigations and prosecution.

The AGF, represented by Lami-Shiru, argued that the ICPC and police acted within their statutory duties. He said the seized items were needed to complete the investigation and described the suit as an abuse of court process because, according to him, two other cases involving the same subject matter were pending before the FCT High Court.

The AGF further maintained that El-Rufai’s claims lacked sufficient legal and evidential support and urged the court to dismiss the suit.

After hearing the parties’ submissions, Justice Abdulmalik fixed December 2 for judgment.

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