El-Rufai Slams ICPC With ₦1bn Suit Over Alleged ‘Illegal’ Abuja Home Raid

Ismael Abdulazeel Reporting

NIGERIA, KADUNA – Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has instituted a ₦1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and three other respondents, accusing them of unlawfully invading and searching his Abuja residence.

The suit, filed on February 20, 2026, before the Federal High Court in Abuja with case number FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026, names the ICPC as the 1st respondent; the Chief Magistrate of the Magistrate’s Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as the 2nd respondent; the Inspector General of Police as the 3rd respondent; and the Attorney-General of the Federation as the 4th respondent.

Alleged Invasion at Aso Drive Residence

According to the originating motion led by his counsel, Mr. Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, the alleged incident occurred on February 19, 2026, at about 2:00 p.m., when ICPC operatives, accompanied by police officers, reportedly stormed El-Rufai’s residence at House 12, Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja.

The former governor contends that the search was conducted pursuant to a defective warrant issued on February 4, 2026, by the Chief Magistrate of the FCT Magistrate’s Court.

Claims of Defective Search Warrant

El-Rufai’s legal team argues that the search warrant is invalid and null on multiple grounds, citing:

Lack of specificity in the description of items to be seized

Typographical and material errors, including discrepancies in address, date, and district details

Ambiguity and overbreadth in execution parameters

Absence of probable cause

The suit maintains that these alleged defects contravene provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 (Sections 143–148) and Section 36 of the ICPC Act 2000.

• GenCos Reiterate Outstanding Payments Exceed N6.2trn
• Wike Commissions 54 Construction Equipment For Edo LGAs, Commends Okpebholo’s Grassroots Economic Vision
• Crisis Hits Edo ADC, Owie, Others Shut Out Of Caucus Meeting
• El-Rufai Slams ICPC With ₦1bn Suit Over Alleged ‘Illegal’ Abuja Home Raid
• Niger Delta Games: Host Edo Dominates Medal Table, Cross River Shows Grit With Nine-Medal Haul

Furthermore, the former governor claims the operation violated his fundamental rights as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution, particularly Sections 34 (right to dignity of the human person), 35 (right to personal liberty), 36 (right to fair hearing), and 37 (right to privacy).

Seizure of Personal Items

The court filings allege that during the operation, officers seized personal documents and electronic devices, listed as Exhibit B in the supporting affidavit. According to the suit, no inventory of the confiscated items has been provided, and the materials have yet to be returned.

El-Rufai contends that the search and seizure were carried out in a manner that subjected him to humiliation, emotional distress, and reputational damage.

Reliefs Sought

In the suit, El-Rufai is seeking several reliefs, including:

A declaration that the search warrant is invalid and the search unlawful

A declaration that his fundamental rights were violated

An order directing the immediate return of all seized items, accompanied by a detailed inventory

An injunction restraining the respondents from using any evidence obtained during the search

₦1 billion in damages, broken down as:

₦300 million in compensatory damages

₦400 million in exemplary damages

₦300 million in aggravated damages

₦100 million as cost of legal action

The former governor maintains that the alleged unlawful raid inflicted significant psychological trauma and emotional harm.