The Federal High Court of Nigeria in Abuja on Wednesday adjourned 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 four others until March 25 for hearing.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjourned the case to allow 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 FCT, the Kayode Egbetokun, and the Lateef Fagbemi, who are listed as the first to fourth respondents respectively.
When the case was called, El-Rufai’s counsel, Ubong Akpan, informed the court that the matter had been scheduled for hearing but explained that the legal team had only recently responded to the ICPC’s counter-affidavit and had yet to reply to that of the police.
Counsel to the ICPC, Abdulsufiano Abubakar, and police lawyer, Ezekiel Rimamsomte, confirmed the submission.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the case to March 25 for hearing and ordered that hearing notices be issued and served on the second respondent, the Chief Magistrate, and the fourth respondent, the Attorney-General of the Federation, who were absent in court.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026, dated February 20 and filed 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 by ICPC officials and police officers constituted a violation of his fundamental rights.
According to him, 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.
El-Rufai also urged the court to declare that any evidence obtained during the search is inadmissible in any proceedings against him because it was allegedly obtained in violation of constitutional safeguards.
He further requested an order restraining the respondents from relying on or tendering any items seized during the search in any investigation or prosecution involving him.
In addition, he asked the court to compel the ICPC and the police to immediately return all items seized from his residence and provide a detailed inventory of the recovered materials.
However, in its counter-affidavit, the ICPC stated that it acted based on a petition against the former governor, which prompted an investigation.
The commission maintained that its operatives executed the search under a valid warrant issued on February 18 and carried out the operation on February 19 between 1:37 pm and 3:56 pm at El-Rufai’s residence in Asokoro, Abuja.
It also said the search was conducted in the presence of El-Rufai’s wife, Hadiza El-Rufai, and his son, Mohammed El-Rufai.
The ICPC therefore urged the court to dismiss the suit.
