The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned a 1 billion Naira fundamental rights suit filed by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and two others until October 27 for a definite hearing.
The suit also lists the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) as respondents. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik granted the adjournment on Monday to allow the former governor’s counsel, Akinyemi Aremu, time to review and respond to the AGF’s newly filed counter-affidavit.
During proceedings, AGF counsel Maimuna Lami-Shiru moved a motion for an extension of time to regularize their processes, which was not opposed by legal representatives for El-Rufai, the police, or the ICPC.
In his suit, El-Rufai is seeking 1 billion Naira in general, exemplary, and aggravated damages, alleging that the February 19 search of his Abuja residence by ICPC and police operatives violated his constitutional rights to dignity, personal liberty, privacy, and fair hearing. He has also asked the court to declare the underlying search warrant invalid and to bar the use of any items or evidence recovered during the operation.
Both the ICPC and the police have defended the legality of the raid. In their respective counter-affidavits, the anti-graft agency and the police maintained that the search was executed under a valid court warrant, stating that operatives acted on a legitimate petition and complied with all statutory legal procedures.
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