Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has filed a N1 billion suit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and other authorities over what he described as an unlawful invasion of his Abuja residence.
The suit, filed at the Federal High Court and marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026, challenges the legality of a search warrant executed at his home on February 19, 2026. El-Rufai, through his legal team led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Oluwole Iyamu, is seeking the enforcement of his fundamental rights, alleging multiple constitutional violations.
Dispute Over Search Warrant
At the heart of the case is a search warrant issued on February 4 by a Chief Magistrate in the Federal Capital Territory. El-Rufai argues that the warrant was fundamentally defective and should be declared null and void.
According to his legal filings, the warrant lacked specificity, contained drafting errors, and failed to establish probable cause. He further described it as overly broad and ambiguous, making its execution unlawful and unconstitutional.
The former governor contends that the operation violated his rights to dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing, and privacy as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.
Allegations of Rights Violations
El-Rufai claims that operatives of the ICPC, alongside personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, stormed his residence at No. 12 Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja, around 2 p.m., conducting a search and seizing personal items including documents and electronic devices.
He described the incident as a “gross violation” of his rights, alleging that the search caused psychological trauma, humiliation, and reputational damage.
As part of the reliefs sought, El-Rufai is asking the court to declare that any evidence obtained during the raid is inadmissible in any legal proceedings, having been procured through unconstitutional means.
N1bn Damages and Additional Reliefs
The former governor is seeking N1 billion in damages, broken down into:
- N300 million as compensatory damages for emotional distress and loss of personal security
- N400 million as exemplary damages to deter future misconduct by law enforcement agencies
- N300 million as aggravated damages for what he described as oppressive and high-handed actions
He is also demanding N100 million to cover legal costs.
Additionally, El-Rufai is requesting a court order compelling the ICPC and police to return all items seized during the operation, along with a full inventory. He further seeks an injunction restraining the authorities from using any materials recovered during the search in investigations or prosecutions.
Legal Arguments
Iyamu argued that the warrant violated provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 and the ICPC Act, noting that it failed to clearly state the items to be seized or provide sufficient grounds for suspicion.
He also cited established legal precedents, including C.O.P. v. Omoh and Fawehinmi v. IGP, to support the argument that evidence obtained through unlawful searches is inadmissible.
What’s Next
The case is expected to test the boundaries of law enforcement powers in Nigeria, particularly regarding search warrants and the protection of citizens’ fundamental rights. The court is yet to fix a date for hearing.
