Former Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has filed a ₦1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over the alleged unlawful raid on his Abuja residence.
The suit, filed on February 20, 2026, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, is marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026.
Aside from the ICPC, El-Rufai joined three other respondents in the suit: the Chief Magistrate of the Magistrate’s Court of the Federal Capital Territory; the Inspector-General of Police; and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Through his counsel, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, the former governor told the court that the alleged raid occurred on February 19, 2026, at about 2:00 p.m., when ICPC operatives, accompanied by police officers, stormed his residence at House 12, Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja.
According to the originating motion, the operation was carried out pursuant to a search warrant issued on February 4, 2026, by a Chief Magistrate in the Federal Capital Territory. However, El-Rufai’s legal team contends that the warrant was defective and legally unsustainable.
The suit argues that the warrant lacked specificity regarding items to be seized and allegedly contained typographical and material errors relating to the address, date, and district details. It further claims there was ambiguity, overbreadth in its execution parameters, and absence of probable cause.
His lawyers maintain that the alleged defects contravene Sections 143–148 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 and Section 36 of the ICPC Act 2000.
They also argue that the search violated his fundamental rights as guaranteed under Sections 34 (dignity of the human person), 35 (personal liberty), 36 (fair hearing), and 37 (right to privacy) of the 1999 Constitution.
El-Rufai further alleged that personal documents and electronic devices were seized during the operation without any inventory being provided. The suit states that the items, listed as Exhibit B in the supporting affidavit, have neither been returned nor properly documented by the officers involved.
The former governor is asking the court to declare the search warrant invalid and the raid unlawful. He is also seeking a declaration that his fundamental rights were breached.
In addition, he is requesting an order directing the immediate return of all seized items with a detailed inventory and an injunction restraining the respondents from using any materials obtained during the search.
El-Rufai is claiming ₦1 billion in damages, ₦300 million as compensatory damages, ₦400 million as exemplary damages, and ₦300 million as aggravated damages, alongside ₦100 million in legal costs.
The suit states that the alleged raid caused him “significant psychological trauma, humiliation, distress, reputational damage, and emotional harm.”
A date for hearing has yet to be fixed by the court.
THECABLE/SAHARAREPORTERS