The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed December 2, 2026, for judgment in a N1 billion fundamental rights suit filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik fixed the date on Tuesday after the parties adopted their respective court processes.
The suit also lists the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) as respondents.
According to report obtained by The News Chronicle, El-Rufai’s counsel, Mr Ubong Akpan, was initially absent when the matter was called. The judge subsequently deemed the former governor’s filed processes adopted.
Akpan later arrived in court and apologised for his lateness. However, when he sought permission to adopt his processes, Justice Abdulmalik informed him that the court had already deemed them adopted.
Counsel to the ICPC, Abdul Mohammed, SAN, urged the court to dismiss the suit in its entirety. The lawyers representing the Inspector-General of Police and the AGF also adopted their respective processes and asked the court to dismiss the case.
El-Rufai is seeking N1 billion in damages over the search of his residence at 12 Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja, by operatives of the ICPC and the police on February 19, 2026.
In his suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026, the former governor alleged that the search violated his fundamental rights to dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing and privacy as guaranteed under Sections 34, 35, 36 and 37 of the Nigerian Constitution.
He asked the court to declare the search unlawful and rule that any evidence obtained through what he described as an invalid search warrant should be inadmissible in any proceedings against him.
The former governor also sought an injunction restraining the respondents from using or tendering any items seized during the search in investigations, prosecutions or other proceedings involving him.
Additionally, he asked the court to order the ICPC and the police to return all items seized from his residence and provide a detailed inventory of the recovered items.
However, the ICPC, in its counter-affidavit, maintained that it acted on a petition received against El-Rufai and subsequently commenced an investigation that led to the search.
The commission argued that its operatives executed a valid search warrant issued on February 18, 2026, between 1:37 p.m. and 3:56 p.m. the following day.
It added that police personnel accompanied its officials during the operation, which was witnessed by El-Rufai’s wife, Hadiza El-Rufai, and his son, Mohammed El-Rufai.
The Inspector-General of Police also defended the operation, insisting that the search was conducted pursuant to a valid warrant issued by a competent court.
In his counter-affidavit, the police chief argued that his officers complied with the applicable legal procedures and accused El-Rufai of attempting to use the court to shield himself from investigation and possible prosecution.
Similarly, the Attorney-General of the Federation argued that the ICPC and the police acted within their statutory powers.
The AGF further contended that the seized items were required to conclude the investigation and described El-Rufai’s suit as an abuse of court processes, claiming that two other cases involving the same subject matter were pending before the FCT High Court.
He maintained that the former governor had failed to provide sufficient legal and evidential grounds to support his claims and urged the court to dismiss the suit.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the matter until December 2 for judgment.
