Abuja Raid: El-Rufai Files N1bn Suit Against ICPC, IGP, AGF

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has filed a N1 billion suit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and other top government officials over what he described as an unlawful invasion of his Abuja residence.

In the suit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, El-Rufai is challenging the validity of a search warrant used by operatives who stormed his home on February 19. The former governor argues that the warrant, issued earlier in the month by a Chief Magistrate in the FCT, was defective and unconstitutional.

According to court documents, El-Rufai is asking the court to declare the warrant null and void, citing what he described as drafting errors, lack of specificity, overbreadth, and absence of probable cause. He maintains that the search violated his fundamental rights to dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing, and privacy as guaranteed under the Constitution.

The former governor named the ICPC, the Inspector-General of Police, the Attorney-General of the Federation, and the Chief Magistrate, who issued the warrant as respondents in the case.

He is also seeking an order restraining the authorities from relying on any items or evidence obtained during the search, insisting that materials recovered under an invalid warrant can not be legally admissible in court.

In addition to requesting the immediate return of all seized items, including documents and electronic devices, El-Rufai is demanding N1 billion in damages. The amount, he said, covers alleged psychological trauma, emotional distress, reputational harm, and what he termed high-handed conduct by security operatives.

His legal team argues that the warrant failed to clearly state the items to be seized and did not meet the requirements outlined under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and the ICPC Act.

An affidavit filed in support of the application claims that officers who carried out the search did not properly identify the items they were looking for and failed to follow laid-down procedures during the operation.

The case is expected to test the limits of law enforcement powers in executing search warrants and could set a significant precedent regarding constitutional protections against unlawful searches.