El-Rufai Sues ICPC, Police, Seeks ₦1 Billion
Last update: February 23, 2026
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El-Rufai drags ICPC to court, demands ₦1bn damages over alleged defective warrant...
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has filed a ₦1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and three others over the alleged unlawful invasion and search of his Abuja residence.
CBI News reports that the suit, instituted on February 20, 2026, at the Federal High Court, Abuja, and marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026, lists 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.
According to the originating motion filed by his counsel, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, the incident occurred on February 19, 2026, at about 2:00 p.m., when ICPC operatives, accompanied by police officers, allegedly stormed his residence at House 12, Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja.
The former governor contends that the operatives executed what he described as a defective search warrant issued on February 4, 2026, by the Chief Magistrate of the FCT.
El-Rufai’s legal team argued that the search warrant was invalid and null, citing several alleged flaws, including: Lack of specificity in describing items to be seized; Typographical and material errors relating to address, date, and district details; Ambiguity and overbreadth in execution parameters; Absence of probable cause.
The suit maintains that the alleged defects contravene Sections 143–148 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, Section 36 of the ICPC Act 2000, and 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.
During the operation, officers reportedly seized personal documents and electronic devices, listed as Exhibit B in the supporting affidavit.
The applicant claims that no inventory was provided and that none of the seized materials has been returned.
In the suit, El-Rufai is seeking several reliefs, including: A declaration that the search warrant is invalid and that the invasion and search of his home were 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 material obtained during the search as evidence;
₦1 billion in damages, broken down into ₦300 million compensatory damages, ₦400 million exemplary damages, and ₦300 million aggravated damages; ₦100 million as legal costs.
The former governor stated that the alleged invasion caused him psychological trauma, humiliation, emotional distress, and reputational damage.
