A Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled March 25 for the hearing of a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by the former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, following a contentious raid on his Abuja residence.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik presided over the Wednesday session, granting an adjournment to allow all legal teams to regularize their processes.
The former governor is seeking N1 billion in exemplary and aggravated damages against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Inspector-General of Police, the Attorney-General of the Federation, and a FCT Chief Magistrate, alleging that their actions constituted a gross violation of his constitutional rights to privacy, dignity, and fair hearing.
The suit centers on an unannounced search conducted at El-Rufai’s Mambilla Street residence in Aso Drive on February 19.
Through his counsel, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, the former governor argues that the invasion was an unlawful breach of his personal liberty and has petitioned the court to declare any evidence obtained during the exercise inadmissible in any future proceedings.
El-Rufai is also demanding the immediate return of all seized items and a permanent injunction restraining the security agencies from utilizing any information gathered during the search, asserting that the warrant used to authorize the operation was fundamentally invalid.
In a defense, both the ICPC and the Nigeria Police Force have filed counter-affidavits maintaining that the operation was conducted under a valid search warrant issued by a competent court on February 18.
The ICPC clarified that the investigation was triggered by a specific petition against the former governor and noted that the search was carried out in the presence of his wife, Hadiza, and son, Mohammed.
The police, represented by Inspector Ewa Anthony, further argued that the suit is a strategic attempt by the applicant to shield himself from legitimate security investigations and prosecution, insisting that all legal procedures were strictly followed during the execution of the court order.
As the parties prepare to return to court later this month, Justice Abdulmalik has directed that hearing notices be served on the Chief Magistrate and the Attorney-General of the Federation, who were absent during the Wednesday proceedings.