NIGERIA TV INFO — LEGAL & GOVERNANCE

El-Rufai Seeks N1bn Damages 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), alleging an unlawful invasion and search of his Abuja residence.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026 and filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, lists the ICPC as the first respondent. Also joined in the action are the Chief Magistrate of the Magistrate’s Court of the Federal Capital Territory, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Attorney-General of the Federation as second to fourth respondents.

Through his legal team led by Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, El-Rufai is asking the court to declare the search warrant issued on February 4 as invalid, null, and void.

According to the former governor, the warrant lacked specificity, contained material drafting errors, and was overly broad. He further argued that it was issued without probable cause, thereby violating his constitutional right to privacy under Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution.

El-Rufai also told the court that the execution of the warrant at his residence — House 12, Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja — on February 19 breached his rights to dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing, and privacy as guaranteed under Sections 34, 35, 36, and 37 of the Constitution.

Among the reliefs sought, the former governor is asking the court to:

Restrain the respondents from relying on any materials seized during the search

Order the immediate return of all items taken from his residence

Declare any evidence obtained from the operation inadmissible in any proceedings against him

The matter is expected to come up for hearing at a later date.