A suit filed by former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and four others was on Wednesday adjourned by the Federal High Court in Abuja until March 25.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjourned the matter to allow parties regularise their processes.
Mr El-Rufai is seeking N1 billion in damages against the ICPC, the Chief Magistrate at the Magistrate’s Court of the FCT, the Nigeria Police Force through the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney General of the Federation.
When the case was called Ubong Akpan counsel to El-Rufai, told the court that the matter was scheduled for hearing but the applicant had just responded to the ICPC’s counter-affidavit and had yet to reply to that of the police.
Lawyers to the ICPC and the police confirmed the submission.
The judge then adjourned the case and ordered that hearing notices be served on the Chief Magistrate and the attorney-general, who were not represented in court.
El-Rufai filed the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026 on February 20 through his lawyer Oluwole Iyamu.
In the application, he asked the court to declare that the search of his residence at 12 Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja on February 19 by officials of the ICPC and the police violated his rights under the constitution.
He asked the court to hold that the action breached his rights to dignity, liberty, fair hearing and privacy under Sections 34, 35, 36 and 37 of the constitution.
The former governor also asked the court to rule that any evidence obtained during the search cannot be used in any proceedings against him.
He further sought an order restraining the respondents from using items seized during the search in any investigation or prosecution involving him.
El-Rufai also asked the court to order the ICPC and the police to return items taken from his residence and provide a list of the items.
In its counter-affidavit, the ICPC said it received a petition against El-Rufai and began an investigation.
The commission said it obtained a search warrant issued on February 18 and carried out the search on February 19 between 1:37 p.m. and 3:56 p.m. at the residence.
It said its officers were accompanied by police personnel and that the exercise was witnessed by El-Rufai’s wife Hadiza El‑Rufai and his son, Mohammed El‑Rufai.
The commission asked the court to dismiss the suit.
