The El-Rufai ₦1bn suit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and two other respondents will come up for judgment on December 2, 2026, at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The case concerns a search of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s residence in February 2026.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik scheduled the judgment after lawyers for the parties presented their final arguments and adopted their court processes.
The case concerns a search conducted at El-Rufai’s Abuja residence in February 2026. The former governor claims that the operation violated his constitutional rights. However, the respondents maintain that their officers acted lawfully.
El-Rufai ₦1bn Suit Challenges Abuja House Search
El-Rufai filed the suit against the ICPC, the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General of the Federation over a search of his residence on Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja, on February 19, 2026.
He argued that the operation violated his rights to dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing and privacy under the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
The former governor is seeking ₦1 billion in damages. He also wants the court to declare the search unlawful and order the return of items seized during the operation.
In addition, El-Rufai challenged the validity of the search warrant. He asked the court to prevent the respondents from using evidence allegedly obtained during the search in investigations, prosecutions or other proceedings involving him.
These requests remain part of the claims before the court. The judge has yet to deliver a final decision on the dispute.
ICPC, Police Defend Search Operation
The ICPC opposed the suit, stating that it received a petition against El-Rufai and began an investigation that led to the search.
The commission maintained that its officers acted under a valid search warrant issued on February 18, 2026. It also stated that police officers accompanied its operatives during the operation the following day.
The Inspector-General of Police similarly argued that the search followed a valid warrant issued by a competent court. The police maintained that their officers acted within their statutory powers.
The Attorney-General of the Federation also urged the court to dismiss the suit, arguing that the respondents acted within their lawful responsibilities.
During the proceedings, counsel for the respondents adopted their filed documents and asked the court to reject El-Rufai’s claims.
El-Rufai’s lawyer, Ubong Akpan, arrived after the matter had been called. The judge had already deemed the former governor’s filed processes adopted.
The court subsequently fixed December 2 for judgment.
The ruling will determine the court’s position on the constitutional claims and the reliefs El-Rufai seeks. Until then, neither side’s position should be treated as the court’s final decision.
