Monday, February 23, 2026 l Dalena News Desk
ABUJA, NIGERIA — Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has filed a fundamental rights enforcement lawsuit seeking ₦1 billion in damages against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and several other respondents, alleging that a raid on his Abuja residence violated his constitutional rights.
El-Rufai instituted the legal action at the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging the validity of a search warrant issued on February 4 by the Chief Magistrate of the Federal Capital Territory Magistrates’ Court that authorised ICPC operatives and police officers to search and seize items at his home on Mambilla Street, Aso Drive. He argues that the warrant was defective, overly broad and lacked probable cause, rendering the search unconstitutional under Section 37 of the Nigerian Constitution, which protects privacy rights.
In the originating motion, prepared by his counsel, Senior Advocate Oluwole Iyamu (SAN), El-Rufai named the magistrate who issued the warrant, the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) as additional respondents alongside the ICPC.
The former governor’s suit asserts that the search conducted on February 19 was unlawful and violated his rights to dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing and privacy guaranteed under Sections 34, 35, 36 and 37 of the Constitution. He is asking the court to declare the warrant invalid, null and void and to hold that any evidence obtained through the search is inadmissible in any future proceedings against him.
El-Rufai is also seeking an order restraining the respondents from relying on or tendering items seized during the raid, as well as an order directing authorities to return all items taken from his residence, together with a detailed inventory.
In his claim for ₦1 billion in damages, El-Rufai broke down the amount to include compensatory damages for psychological trauma and emotional distress, exemplary damages to deter future misconduct by law enforcement agencies, and aggravated damages for alleged malicious and oppressive conduct — plus additional costs for legal fees and expenses.
The lawsuit comes amid ongoing investigations by Nigerian anti-graft and security agencies into El-Rufai’s conduct following his return to the country, including separate inquiries by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and cybercrime charges filed by the Department of State Services (SSS).