Court adjourns El-Rufai’s N1bn suit against ICPC until March 25
Federal High Court Adjourns El-Rufai’s Rights Enforcement Suit
The Federal High Court in Abuja has postponed a fundamental rights enforcement lawsuit filed by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and four other parties. The hearing is now scheduled for March 25.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik set the new date to give the parties involved time to regularize their legal processes. El-Rufai is seeking 1 billion naira in damages from the ICPC, the Chief Magistrate of the FCT Abuja, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
At Wednesday’s proceedings, El-Rufai’s attorney, Ubong Akpan, indicated that the hearing had been set, noting that they had addressed the ICPC’s counter affidavit but had yet to respond to the one submitted by the Inspector-General of Police. Lawyers for the ICPC and the police confirmed this statement.
Justice Abdulmalik instructed that the Chief Magistrate and the Attorney-General, who were absent from the court, be served with hearing notices.
In his motion, dated February 20, El-Rufai sought seven specific declarations, asserting that the search of his residence on February 19 constituted a serious violation of his fundamental rights. He claimed the search breached his dignity, personal liberty, right to fair hearing, and privacy as protected under the Nigerian Constitution.
El-Rufai requested a ruling that any evidence gathered from the alleged unlawful search should be deemed inadmissible in any related proceedings. He further sought an injunction preventing the respondents from using any evidence or items obtained during the search and requested the return of all items taken from his residence, accompanied by an itemized inventory.
In response, the ICPC stated in its counter affidavit that the operation was prompted by a petition against El-Rufai. The commission asserted that the search was conducted under a valid warrant issued on February 18 and executed the following day. ICPC officials were reportedly accompanied by police personnel during the search, which was witnessed by members of El-Rufai’s family.
The commission urged the court to dismiss the suit.
