Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has dragged the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General of the Federation before the Federal High Court, Abuja, demanding ₦1bn in damages over what he described as an unlawful invasion of his residence in the Federal Capital Territory.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026 and filed on February 20 through his counsel, Mr Oluwole Iyamu (SAN), the former governor is challenging the legality of a search warrant allegedly issued on February 4 by a Chief Magistrate in the FCT.
El-Rufai is seeking a declaration that the warrant authorising the search of his residence at House 12, Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja, is “invalid, null and void” on grounds of alleged defects and constitutional breaches.
According to court documents, operatives of the ICPC and the Nigeria Police Force reportedly stormed the property on February 19 at about 2pm, where they conducted a search and seized documents and electronic devices.
The former governor contended that the warrant lacked particularity, contained material drafting errors and failed to disclose probable cause, thereby violating his fundamental rights as guaranteed under Sections 34, 35, 36 and 37 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
He is asking the court to declare that the search amounted to a gross violation of his rights to dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing and privacy.
Among the seven reliefs sought, El-Rufai is praying the court to rule that any evidence obtained from the search is inadmissible in any proceedings against him, having been procured in breach of constitutional safeguards.
He also sought an order restraining the respondents from relying on or tendering any items seized during the operation and directing that all confiscated materials be returned to him with a detailed inventory.
The ₦1bn claim comprises ₦300m as compensatory damages for psychological trauma and emotional distress; ₦400m as exemplary damages to deter future misconduct by law enforcement agencies; and ₦300m as aggravated damages for what he termed the malicious and oppressive execution of the warrant. He further asked for ₦100m as cost of filing the suit.
In his affidavit, a principal aide to the former governor, Mr Mohammed Shaba, alleged that the search warrant did not specify the items sought and was executed without adherence to due process as stipulated under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
Citing decided authorities including C.O.P. v. Omoh and Fawehinmi v. IGP, counsel to the applicant argued that evidence obtained through improper or unlawful means cannot be relied upon in court.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the ICPC nor the Nigeria Police Force had issued an official response to the suit.
The matter is yet to be assigned a hearing date.
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