The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned until March 25 the hearing of a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who is seeking N1 billion in damages against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and four others over an alleged unlawful search of his residence.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjourned the case on Wednesday to allow parties to regularize their processes.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026, names ICPC as first respondent, the Chief Magistrate of the FCT Magistrate's Court as second respondent, the Inspector-General of Police as third respondent, and the Attorney-General of the Federation as fourth respondent.
When the case was called, El-Rufai's counsel, Ubong Akpan, informed the court that the matter was fixed for hearing but noted they had just responded to ICPC's counter affidavit and were yet to respond to the I-G's submission.
ICPC's lawyer Abdulsufiano Abubakar and police counsel Ezekiel Rimamsomte confirmed Akpan's submission, leading to the adjournment.
The former governor, in his originating motion filed Feb. 20 by Oluwole Iyamu (SAN), is seeking seven reliefs including a declaration that the invasion and search of his residence at House 12, Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja, on Feb. 19 at about 2pm by ICPC and I-G operatives amounts to a gross violation of his fundamental rights.
He argues it violated his rights to dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing, and privacy under Sections 34, 35, 36, and 37 of the Constitution.
El-Rufai further urges 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 seeks an order restraining respondents from using any seized evidence and directing the return of all items taken from his premises.
However, in its counter affidavit, ICPC stated it received a petition against El-Rufai and commenced investigation, leading to the search under a valid warrant issued on Feb. 18 and executed on Feb. 19.
The commission said the exercise was witnessed by El-Rufai's wife, Hadiza, and his son, Mohammed.
The police, in its counter affidavit deposed by Insp Ewa Anthony, argued it has statutory power to investigate and prosecute offenders, insisting the search warrant was genuine and all applicable legal procedures were followed.
The police accused the ex-governor of trying to use the court to shield himself from investigation and prosecution.
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