Dismiss El-Rufai’s N1bn enforcement suit – IGP tells court
Inspector General of Police Seeks Dismissal of El-Rufai’s Lawsuit
Inspector General of Police Olatunji Disu has urged Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a rights enforcement suit brought by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
El-Rufai is seeking 1 billion naira in damages from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Chief Magistrate Court of the Federal Capital Territory, the Inspector General of Police, and the Attorney General of the Federation. His legal challenge also follows a recent search of his home in Asokoro, Abuja, during which law enforcement agents reportedly seized several items.
In a counter-affidavit, Disu defended the search, alleging that El-Rufai is using the lawsuit to evade investigation and potential prosecution. The IGP affirmed that the police possess the statutory authority to detect, arrest, investigate, and prosecute offenders. He emphasized that the search was conducted under a warrant issued by a competent court.
Disu further rebutted El-Rufai’s assertion that the warrant was invalid, stating it was lawfully issued and executed according to legal protocol.
During Thursday’s proceedings, El-Rufai’s attorney, Ubong Akpan, indicated he had yet to respond to the IGP’s counter-affidavit, although he had addressed the ICPC’s filing.
With no objections from the legal representatives of the ICPC or the IGP, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the case until March 25 for further hearings. The judge also instructed that hearing notices be issued and served to the second respondent, the Chief Magistrate of the FCT, and the fourth respondent, the Attorney General of the Federation, both of whom were absent from the courtroom.
