Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has filed N1 billion Naira fundamental rights enforcement suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC over the alleged unlawful invasion and search of his Abuja residence.
In the suit, El-Rufai is challenging the validity of a search warrant issued on February 4, 2026 by a Chief Magistrate. He is asking the court to declare the warrant null and void, citing lack of specificity, drafting errors, ambiguity and absence of probable cause, which he argues render the search unconstitutional.
El-Rufai named the Chief Magistrate, the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General of the Federation as 2nd to 4th respondents in the suit.
He contends that the search conducted at his residence on House 12, Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja, on February 19 by ICPC officers and the Nigeria Police Force, NPF violated his fundamental rights to dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing and privacy as guaranteed under Sections 34, 35, 36 and 37 of the 1999 Constitution.
The one-time FCT Minister is seeking seven reliefs, including an order declaring that any evidence obtained during the search is inadmissible in any proceedings against him.
He also wants an injunction restraining the respondents from relying on or tendering any items seized and an order directing the immediate return of all confiscated materials.
El-Rufai is further demanding N1 billion in general, exemplary and aggravated damages for alleged trespass, unlawful seizure and psychological trauma.
The breakdown includes N300 million as compensatory damages, N400 million as exemplary damages, N300 million as aggravated damages and N100 million as cost of filing the suit, including legal fees.
In his suit, the claimant argued that the search warrant contravened Sections 143–148 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA 2015 and Section 36 of the ICPC Act, 2000.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
