Court delays El-Rufai ₦1bn suit as Abuja judge adjourns hearing over service issues in case against ICPC and others

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, Nigeria, on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, adjourned proceedings in the ₦1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and other respondents, following unresolved issues surrounding service of court processes.

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Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, who presided over the matter, expressed dissatisfaction after counsel to El-Rufai, Ugochukwu Nnakwu, informed the court that the second respondent, a magistrate named in the suit, had not yet been served with the required legal documents.

The court observed that while most respondents were represented, the absence of proper service on all parties posed a procedural setback to the continuation of the hearing.

During proceedings, counsel to the ICPC, Isaac Akwo, sought an adjournment to allow senior advocate Abdu Mohammed (SAN) to appear in court, but the request was declined due to scheduling constraints within the court’s docket.

The matter, which carries significant public attention due to its political undertones, centres on allegations by El-Rufai that the ICPC conducted an unlawful invasion of his Abuja residence, claims which the anti-corruption agency has strongly denied.

In a tense but orderly session, Justice Abdulmalik directed El-Rufai’s legal team to clarify the identity of the magistrate involved in the suit and advised that procedural steps be properly regularised before the next hearing.

Counsel to the former governor subsequently requested an adjournment to correct service irregularities, a request that was not opposed by other parties present in court, including representatives of the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General of the Federation.

The judge thereafter adjourned the case until March 31 for hearing of the pending motion and ordered that a hearing notice be duly issued and served on the affected respondent.

The El-Rufai ₦1bn suit delay has now added another procedural twist to a case that has already seen multiple filings and counter-affidavits.

The ICPC maintains that its actions were based on a valid court-issued search warrant following a petition, while the Nigeria Police Force has also defended its role, insisting that all procedures were lawful and that the suit should be dismissed.

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The case continues to draw public scrutiny as legal arguments intensify over constitutional rights, enforcement powers, and the limits of investigative authority.