El-Rufai Files N1B Suit Against ICPC, Others Over Alleged Abuja Home Raid

El-Rufai Files N1B Suit Against ICPC, Others Over Alleged Abuja Home Raid

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

Former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has instituted a N1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and three other government officials, accusing them of unlawfully invading and searching his Abuja residence.

The suit was filed on February 20, 2026, at the Federal High Court in Abuja under case number FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026.

The respondents named in the suit include the ICPC as the first respondent, the Chief Magistrate of the Magistrate’s Court of the Federal Capital Territory as the second, the Inspector General of Police as the third, and the Attorney-General of the Federation as the fourth respondent.

According to the originating motion filed by El-Rufai’s counsel, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, the alleged incident took place on February 19, 2026, around 2:00 p.m., when operatives of the ICPC, accompanied by police officers, reportedly invaded his residence at House 12, Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja.

The suit contends that the search was carried out under a defective warrant issued on February 4, 2026, by the Chief Magistrate, describing it as invalid and null due to several flaws.

El-Rufai’s legal team argued that the warrant lacked specificity in describing items to be seized, contained typographical and material errors in the address, date, and district details, and had ambiguous and overbroad execution parameters. The team also claimed the warrant was issued without probable cause.

The suit further asserts that the actions of the respondents violated provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, the ICPC Act 2000, and fundamental rights enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, including sections guaranteeing the dignity of the human person, personal liberty, fair hearing, and privacy.

During the operation, the suit alleges that officers seized personal items, including documents and electronic devices, without providing an inventory or returning the items. The seized materials, listed as Exhibit B in the supporting affidavit, have not been released, according to the suit.

El-Rufai is seeking a declaration that the search warrant was invalid and that the invasion of his home was unlawful.

He is also requesting a declaration that the respondents’ actions violated his fundamental rights, an order directing the immediate return of all seized items along with a detailed inventory, and an injunction restraining the respondents from using any evidence obtained during the raid.

In addition, the former governor is seeking N1 billion in damages, broken down into N300 million compensatory, N400 million exemplary, and N300 million aggravated damages, alongside N100 million to cover legal costs.

El-Rufai claims that the incident caused significant psychological trauma, humiliation, distress, reputational damage, and emotional harm.

His legal team maintains that the suit is necessary to protect his rights and to set a precedent against unlawful actions by government agencies.

The Federal High Court is yet to schedule a date for hearing of the case.