Ex-Kaduna Governor El-Rufai’s N1bn suit against ICPC hits setback; court adjourns to March 11, 2026
The 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 suffered a setback on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja due to the inability of his lawyer to serve the respondents.
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El-Rufai is seeking N1 billion in damages against the respondents, which include:
- 1st Respondent: ICPC
- 2nd Respondent: Chief Magistrate, Magistrate’s Court of the FCT, Abuja
- 3rd Respondent: Inspector-General of Police
- 4th Respondent: Attorney-General of the Federation
During proceedings before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, only Ubong Akpan, representing El-Rufai, was present, while none of the respondents had representation.
The court was informed that service of the respondents had not been effected, prompting the judge to adjourn the matter to March 11 for further mention.
El-Rufai, through a legal team led by Oluwole Iyamu, seeks several declarations, including that the search warrant issued on February 4 authorizing a search of his residence was invalid and unconstitutional.
Also read: El-Rufai remains in custody as ICPC delays bail response
He argues that the warrant lacked particularity, contained drafting errors, and violated his rights under Sections 34–37 of the Constitution.
He also seeks:
- An injunction restraining respondents from using seized items in any proceedings
- Return of all seized items with a detailed inventory
- General, exemplary, and aggravated damages totaling N1 billion
The suit stems from a February 19 search and seizure operation at El-Rufai’s residence in Abuja, which he claims violated his fundamental rights, including personal liberty, dignity, and privacy.
