El-Rufai sues ICPC, others over alleged unlawful search of Abuja home
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has filed a N1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and three others over
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has filed a N1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and three others over the alleged unlawful search of his Abuja residence.
Also named as respondents in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026 and filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, are the Chief Magistrate, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Magistrates’ Court, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
El-Rufai is challenging the validity of a search warrant issued on February 4 by the Chief Magistrate, which authorised a search of his residence. He contended that the warrant was defective and violated his constitutional rights.
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He alleged that operatives of the ICPC and the police executed the warrant at his residence on Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja, on February 19, thereby infringing on his rights to dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing and privacy as guaranteed under the Constitution.
The former governor argued that the warrant lacked specificity and probable cause, and was issued contrary to provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, and the ICPC Act, 2000. He maintained that any evidence obtained from the search is inadmissible.
El-Rufai is seeking an order restraining the respondents from relying on items seized during the search, the immediate return of the items, and N1 billion as general and exemplary damages for the alleged violation of his fundamental rights.
