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ABUJA — Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has dragged the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and three other top government officials to court, demanding ₦1 billion in damages over what he describes as an unlawful invasion and search of his Abuja residence.
The fundamental rights enforcement suit, filed on February 20, 2026, before the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, is marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026.
Also joined in the suit are the Chief Magistrate of the Magistrate’s Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Inspector General of Police, and the Attorney-General of the Federation as 2nd, 3rd and 4th respondents respectively.
Through his counsel, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, El-Rufai is challenging the legality of a search conducted at his residence — House 12, Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja — on February 19, 2026, at about 2:00 p.m.
He alleges that ICPC operatives, accompanied by police officers, stormed his home armed with what he termed a “defective” search warrant.
According to court documents, the warrant was issued on February 4, 2026, by the Chief Magistrate. However, El-Rufai’s legal team argues that the warrant is fundamentally flawed and legally unsustainable.
Among the alleged defects cited are lack of specificity in the items to be seized, typographical and material errors in the address and district details, ambiguity in execution parameters, and absence of probable cause.
The suit contends that the purported irregularities violate provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 and Section 36 of the ICPC Act 2000, as well as Sections 34, 35, 36 and 37 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantee dignity of the human person, personal liberty, fair hearing and right to privacy.
El-Rufai further claims that during the operation, officers seized personal documents and electronic devices without providing an inventory or returning the items. The materials allegedly confiscated were listed as exhibits in the supporting affidavit.
In his reliefs before the court, the former governor is seeking a declaration that the search warrant is invalid and the invasion unlawful; an order for the immediate return of all seized items with a detailed inventory; and an injunction restraining the respondents from using any evidence obtained during the search.
He is also asking the court to award ₦1 billion in damages — broken down into ₦300 million compensatory, ₦400 million exemplary and ₦300 million aggravated damages — in addition to ₦100 million as legal costs.
El-Rufai maintains that the incident subjected him to psychological trauma, humiliation, reputational harm and emotional distress.
The suit is expected to ignite fresh legal and political debate as the court prepares to determine whether the anti-corruption operation crossed constitutional boundaries.
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