₦airaland Forum

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday postponed the hearing of a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and other parties until March 25.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjourned the case to enable all parties involved to properly regularise their court processes.

Applesbite International Magazine reports that El-Rufai is seeking N1 billion in damages from the ICPC, the Chief Magistrate of the Magistrate Court of the Federal Capital Territory, the Nigeria Police Force through the Inspector-General of Police, and the Federal Ministry of Justice Nigeria represented by the Attorney-General of the Federation.

During Wednesday’s proceedings, El-Rufai’s lawyer, Ubong Akpan, informed the court that although the matter was scheduled for hearing, the legal team had only recently filed a response to the ICPC’s counter-affidavit and had yet to reply to the police’s submission.

Lawyers representing the ICPC and the police, Abdulsufiano Abubakar and Ezekiel Rimamsomte, respectively, confirmed the development.

Following this, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter to March 25 for hearing and directed that hearing notices be served on the second and fourth respondents — the Chief Magistrate and the Attorney-General of the Federation — who were absent from court.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026, filed on February 20 by senior advocate Oluwole Iyamu, El-Rufai is asking the court to declare that the search of his residence on Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja, by ICPC operatives and police officers on February 19 violated his constitutional rights.

He argued that the operation breached his rights to dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing, and privacy as guaranteed under Sections 34, 35, 36, and 37 of the Nigerian Constitution.

The former governor also asked the court to rule that any evidence obtained during the search should be declared inadmissible in any legal proceedings against him, on the grounds that it was allegedly obtained through an unlawful warrant.

In addition, El-Rufai is seeking an injunction preventing the respondents from relying on any items seized during the operation and an order compelling the authorities to return all materials taken from his residence along with a full inventory.

He further requested N1 billion as general, exemplary, and aggravated damages.

However, the ICPC, in its counter-affidavit, maintained that the search was carried out legally after receiving a petition against the former governor. The commission stated that its operatives acted on a valid search warrant issued on February 18 and executed the following day between 1:37 p.m. and 3:56 p.m.

According to the agency, the operation was conducted in the presence of El-Rufai’s wife, Hadiza El-Rufai, and his son, Mohammed El-Rufai.

The police also argued that the search was carried out under a lawful court order and that officers followed due procedures while executing the warrant.

They urged the court to dismiss the suit, alleging that the former governor was attempting to use the court process to obstruct ongoing investigations.

Lanruze:
Dear Readers,

Kindly bookmark this comment below.

If PBAT gets a majority and overwhelmingly poor score amongst the Muslim North next year's Presidential Elections, the President should not forget this single move on Nasir El-rufai & Abubakar Malami.

Forget the Governors Defections to APC, the Northerners that we have spoken to see it as an affront puting an El-Rufai in custody throughout the holy Month of Ramadan.

Except the people around the President move swiftly to douse the subtle anger on the perceived betrayal of El-Rufai.

Lanruze:
Dear Readers,

Kindly bookmark this comment below.

If PBAT gets a majority and overwhelmingly poor score amongst the Muslim North next year's Presidential Elections, the President should not forget this single move on Nasir El-rufai & Abubakar Malami.

Forget the Governors Defections to APC, the Northerners that we have spoken to see it as an affront puting an El-Rufai in custody throughout the holy Month of Ramadan.

Except the people around the President move swiftly to douse the subtle anger on the perceived betrayal of El-Rufai.

Nackzy:
Political Witch Hunt even when they're enjoying 32 states

hotseat:
The Hell Ruffian is trying to be too clever by half.

He refused to answer questions while being in custody and now has the effrontery of suing.

Well, anyone is at liberty to sue and it's within the legal powers of the courts to dismiss cases lacking in merit.

The Hell Ruffian must be made to answer the charges brought against him before the law courts.

He can run but definitely can't hide!




@hotseat

AMINDA:
The real question is why is APC afraid of suing him to court?

boxypane:
What an appalling state the leaders of this entity called Nigeria have exposed us to. A criminal that should be hanging by the gallows in China is suing a government organization in Nigeria.

hotseat:
Be patient.

The Hell Ruffian must first undergo a forensic investigation by the authorities before arraigning him in court.

They intend to dot the i's and cross the t's so that he doesn't escape by exploiting any loopholes.

But, he (Hell Ruffian) chose to beat the authorities in their game by first rushing to court.

Brother AMINDA, remember sey no be who first call police dey win case o.

Very soon, the legal fireworks would begin!



@hotseat

AMINDA:
The law does not allow for perpetual detention before investigation. It should be vice versa. Tinubu is just keeping Elrufai away from the 2027 electioneering campaign because he knows his capacity. He is afraid and it shows. The outcome of the election will be inevitable with or without Elrufai.

Lanruze:
Dear Readers,

Kindly bookmark this comment below.

If PBAT gets a majority and overwhelmingly poor score amongst the Muslim North next year's Presidential Elections, the President should not forget this single move on Nasir El-rufai & Abubakar Malami.

Forget the Governors Defections to APC, the Northerners that we have spoken to see it as an affront puting an El-Rufai in custody throughout the holy Month of Ramadan.

Except the people around the President move swiftly to douse the subtle anger on the perceived betrayal of El-Rufai.

hotseat:
Which capacity does the Hell Ruffian have?

Okay, I get you now!

The capacity for mischief!

All politically discerning Nigerians know that the Hell Ruffian is disgruntled for being rejected by the Senate.

The Nigerian Senate did a very good job by enabling Nigeria dodge a bullet.

His antecedents are replete with atrocious activities.

The Senators know him better.




@hotseat

AMINDA:
The real question is why is APC afraid of suing him to court? What question do you expect him to answer in detention? Pleading silence is his fundamental right. The ICPC is not a court of law. They have been investigating him for over 2 years but all we've seen so far is media trials from the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway toilet papers while still failing to arraign him. Elrufai is rather the one following the Constitution by suing the government to court. We were initually told by Tinubu’s toilet newspapers that he embezzled 450 billion naira, then it became mansions in Cairo. Now, they have abandoned all that and are now searching his old laptop and Nokia N95 for wiretapping evidence. Wetin concern ICPC with wiretapping? No be juju be that? Tinubu is hounding opposition because he is clearly afraid. Time is a gentleman.

Omoboricash:
Tinubu afraid of who. Does he look someone who is afraid of loosing election. If he thinks in line of your thought, he would be linking north butt, but he doesnt care.
Let El rufai sue FG, then allow tge court to carry out their responsibility

Darekiki:
Power supremacy to the north ideology made this man trap himself by his words.
He is dangerous to hold big political post in Nigeria.
Now Tinubu no send anybody, as the matter for facts. You have not seen tinubu true colour. Na second term you will know what he has as an intention since day one.
Tinubu ways are not favourable now. But we still need tough people like him in Nigeria. Cus it takes a mad and tough person to rule corrupt and lawless people.

Omoboricash:
It is not a do or die affair. Let Elrufai answer the question put to him.
He made statement on national tv that he tapped NSA phone .
If you dont see it as a security threat, others see it as one.
Malami stockpile fire arms and you want hi to be released.
The way PBAT is going about his administration, do u think he cares about second time.
Worse secenrio is to be a one term president. At least he has done his part. Let him be judged by his action while he was in power.

Sheuns:
The way you all needed tough people like Buhari right?

We all saw how it went during his tenure.