Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has filed a N1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over what he described as an unlawful raid on his Abuja residence. He claims the warrant used for the February 19 operation was defective and unconstitutional.
Filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja under case number FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026, El-Rufai, through his lead counsel Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, asked the court to declare the warrant issued on February 4 by the Chief Magistrate of the FCT Magistrate Court “invalid, null and void.”
El-Rufai argued that the warrant lacked particularity, contained drafting errors, was ambiguous, overbroad, and devoid of probable cause, making the search a violation of Section 37 of the Constitution. He further claimed the ICPC and the Inspector-General of Police breached his fundamental rights to dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing, and privacy under Sections 34, 35, 36, and 37 during the raid on his home at House 12, Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja.
The former governor is also seeking a court declaration that any evidence obtained from the search is inadmissible in any proceedings against him and is asking for an injunction restraining the ICPC and its agents from using seized items, as well as an order for their immediate return with a detailed inventory.
In his damages claim, El-Rufai is demanding N1 billion in total, broken down as N300 million for psychological trauma and distress, N400 million as exemplary damages, N300 million as aggravated damages, and N100 million for legal costs.
Iyamu argued that the warrant was fundamentally defective, citing the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, and noted errors in the address, date, and execution instructions. He said the warrant’s overbroad language and ambiguities undermined proper execution. He also cited case law, including C.O.P. v. Omoh (1969) and Fawehinmi v. IGP (2000), to argue that evidence obtained under an invalid warrant is unlawful.
An affidavit by El-Rufai’s principal secretary, Mohammed Shaba, claimed that during the raid, officers seized personal items including documents and electronic devices, causing humiliation, psychological trauma, and distress.
The suit is among several legal disputes involving the former governor, with the court expected to set dates for further proceedings as the ICPC prepares its response.