The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned a N1bn fundamental rights suit filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over the search of his Abuja residence by operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the police.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjourned the matter on Monday until October 27 for definite hearing after counsel for the Attorney-General of the Federation, Maimuna Lami-Shiru, informed the court that the AGF had filed a counter-affidavit in opposition to El-Rufai’s claims.
Counsel to the former governor, Akinyemi Aremu, did not oppose the application by the AGF seeking an extension of time for the counter-affidavit to be deemed properly filed and served.
The court subsequently granted the application and fixed October 27 for further hearing.
The case arose from a search of El-Rufai’s Abuja residence on February 19, 2026, by ICPC operatives accompanied by police officers.
El-Rufai had challenged the legality of the operation, arguing that the search warrant used by the authorities was defective and that the operation violated his fundamental rights. He subsequently filed the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026, before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In the suit filed on February 20 through his counsel, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, the former governor initially listed the ICPC, the Chief Magistrate of the FCT Magistrates’ Court, the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General of the Federation as respondents.
The Chief Magistrate was later removed from the suit after Justice Abdulmalik observed that El-Rufai had not been able to identify the particular magistrate he intended to sue.
El-Rufai is now seeking N1bn in general, exemplary and aggravated damages against the remaining respondents.
He is also asking the court to declare that the search of his residence at Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja, violated his constitutional rights to dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing and privacy.
The former governor further wants the court to prevent the authorities from using or tendering any evidence or items allegedly recovered during the search and to order the return of the seized items with a detailed inventory.
El-Rufai’s legal team has argued that the search warrant was invalid because of alleged drafting errors, lack of specificity, ambiguity and other defects.
The ICPC, however, has rejected the former governor’s claims and asked the court to dismiss the suit.
In its counter-affidavit, the anti-corruption agency said it received a petition against El-Rufai and commenced an investigation which led to the search of his residence.
The commission maintained that its operatives acted pursuant to a valid search warrant and were accompanied by police officers during the operation. It also said members of El-Rufai’s family witnessed the exercise.
The Nigeria Police Force similarly argued that the search was carried out under a valid court-issued warrant and within its statutory powers to detect, investigate and prosecute offences.
The police maintained that its officers complied with the relevant procedures and urged the court to dismiss the former governor’s application.
The court will now hear the substantive arguments on October 27, when the parties are expected to present their respective positions on the legality of the search and the reliefs sought by El-Rufai.