The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday adjourned a N1 billion rights suit filed by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and others until October 27, 2026, for definite hearing.
Others named in the suit are the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) as second and third respondents, respectively.
The presiding judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, adjourned the suit to allow El-Rufai’s lawyer, Akinyemi Aremu, to respond to the counter affidavit filed by the AGF opposing the claims.
When the case was called, Aremu informed the court that the matter was scheduled for hearing.
The AGF’s counsel, Maimuna Lami-Shiru, told the court that a counter affidavit had been filed by the AGF.
She prayed the court for a leave to move their motion seeking an extension of time to deem their counter affidavit as being properly filed and served.
El-Rufai’s lawyer and ACP Ezekiel Rimamsomte, who appeared for the IGP and the ICPC counsel, did not oppose the application and the judge granted it as prayed.
Justice Abdulmalik thereafter adjourned the case until October 27 for definite hearing.
El-Rufai had sued the ICPC, the Chief Magistrate at the Magistrate’s Court of the FCT, Abuja; IGP and the AGF as first to fourth respondents, respectively.
He, however, dropped the name of the magistrate from the case following his inability to specify the name of the magistrate who was sued as 2nd respondent, after the judge made the observation.
El-Rufai is, therefore, demanding a N1 billion in damages against ICPC, the IGP, and the AGF.
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The former governor, in an originating motion on notice marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026, dated and filed February 20 by Oluwole Iyamu (SAN), sought seven reliefs.
He prayed 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 2pm by the and ICPC and IGP amounts to a gross violation of the applicant’s fundamental rights.
El-Rufai added that it was a violation to dignity of the human person, personal liberty, fair hearing, and privacy under Sections 34, 35, 36, and 37 of the Constitution.
El-Rufai therefore urged 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.”
He also sought an order awarding the sum of N1 billion as general, exemplary, and aggravated damages, among others.
The ICPC and IGP, however, prayed the court to dismiss the suit in its entirety.
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