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) over the alleged unlawful invasion and search of his Abuja residence.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026, was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on February 20 by his counsel, Oluwole Iyamu, and challenges the validity of a search warrant issued on February 4 by a Chief Magistrate of the FCT Magistrates’ Court. El-Rufai is asking the court to declare the warrant authorising the search and seizure at his residence invalid, null, and void.
The former governor contended that the warrant was “null and void for lack of particularity, material drafting errors, ambiguity in execution parameters, overbreadth, and absence of probable cause, thereby constituting an unlawful and unreasonable search in violation of Section 37 of the Constitution.”
He listed the ICPC as the first respondent, while the Chief Magistrate of the FCT Magistrates’ Court, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Attorney-General of the Federation were named as second to fourth respondents.
El-Rufai is seeking seven reliefs, including:
- Declaration that the invasion and search of his residence on February 19 violated his rights to dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing, and privacy under Sections 34, 35, 36, and 37 of the Constitution.
- Declaration that any evidence obtained pursuant to the invalid warrant is inadmissible in proceedings against him.
- An order restraining the respondents from using or tendering any items seized during the search.
- Return of all seized items with a detailed inventory.
- N1 billion in general, exemplary, and aggravated damages for trespass, unlawful seizure, psychological trauma, humiliation, distress, and reputational harm.
The damages claim is broken down as follows: N300 million for psychological trauma, N400 million as exemplary damages, and N300 million as aggravated damages, with an additional N100 million for legal costs.
El-Rufai’s counsel argued that the warrant was fundamentally defective, citing lack of specificity, typographical errors, ambiguous execution terms, overbroad directives, and absence of verifiable probable cause. Iyamu referenced Sections 143–148 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, Section 36 of the ICPC Act 2000, and constitutional protections against arbitrary intrusion.
Supporting affidavits allege that ICPC and Nigeria Police officers seized personal documents and electronic devices during the operation, causing “undue humiliation, psychological trauma, and distress,” and that none of the items have been returned.
The suit seeks to enforce El-Rufai’s constitutional rights and hold the respondents accountable for the alleged unlawful actions.
