A Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and other government agencies until March 25, 2026. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik presided over the matter and adjourned it to allow the parties involved to regularize their legal processes. Mr. El-Rufai is seeking N1 billion in damages from 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, who were listed as respondents in the suit.

During the court proceedings, El-Rufai’s counsel, Ubong Akpan, informed the court that although the case was scheduled for hearing, the applicant had only recently responded to the ICPC’s counter-affidavit and had yet to reply to that of the police. Lawyers representing both the ICPC and the police confirmed this submission. Consequently, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the case and directed that hearing notices be served on the Chief Magistrate and the Attorney General of the Federation, as they were not represented in court.

The suit, identified as FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026, was filed by El-Rufai on February 20 through his lawyer, Oluwole Iyamu (SAN). In his application, the former governor is asking 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 fundamental rights. He specifically alleges that the action breached his rights to dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing, and privacy, as guaranteed under Sections 34, 35, 36, and 37 of the Nigerian Constitution. Furthermore, El-Rufai is seeking a declaration that any evidence obtained during this search should be deemed inadmissible in any proceedings against him, arguing it was secured in violation of constitutional safeguards. He also requested an order restraining the respondents from using any seized items or evidence in any investigation or prosecution involving him, and a directive for the ICPC and the police to immediately return all items taken from his residence, along with a detailed inventory.

In response, the ICPC, in its counter-affidavit, asserted that the search was conducted following a petition lodged against El-Rufai, which initiated an investigation. The commission stated that a valid search warrant was obtained from a court on February 18 and subsequently executed on February 19 between 1:37 p.m. and 3:56 p.m. at his Abuja residence. The ICPC maintained that its officers were accompanied by police personnel and that the operation was witnessed by El-Rufai’s wife, Hadiza El-Rufai, and his son, Mohammed El-Rufai. The commission stated that several items were recovered during the operation and urged the court to dismiss the fundamental rights suit. The police, in their separate counter-affidavit sworn to by Inspector Ewa Anthony, corroborated that the search was carried out under a lawful warrant and accused the former governor of attempting to use the court to shield himself from investigation and possible prosecution.

Separately, El-Rufai has been facing an ongoing detention saga. He was arrested by the ICPC on February 18, immediately after his release from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which had earlier detained him on February 16 over similar corruption allegations. The ICPC had initially obtained a 14-day remand order on February 19, which expired on March 5, 2026. However, due to El-Rufai's alleged refusal to "cooperate" with investigators, a second 14-day remand order was sought and granted. Magistrate Okechukwu John Akweke of a Magistrate Court in Bwari, Abuja, renewed the remand order on March 5, extending El-Rufai’s detention until March 19, 2026, pending the conclusion of investigations into allegations of money laundering and abuse of office. The extension was granted based on an application by ICPC’s lawyer, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, who sought a remand warrant to detain the former governor for an additional 14 days.

Beyond the corruption and abuse of office claims, the Department of State Services (DSS) is also seeking El-Rufai's prosecution over alleged wiretapping of the communications of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. The ICPC further claimed to have found wiretapping equipment connected with espionage activities at El-Rufai's Abuja residence during the recent search, directly contradicting El-Rufai's counter-accusation that NSA Ribadu was behind his ordeals and involved in importing poisonous substances into the country. El-Rufai's arraignment at the Federal High Court in Abuja was stalled last week due to his detention by the ICPC. Security officials had previously attempted to arrest him upon his return from Egypt.

The former stalwart of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has reportedly transitioned to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a platform of a coalition opposition. If corruption charges are ultimately filed against him, El-Rufai would become the second staunch ally of former President Muhammadu Buhari to face money laundering and cyberstalking charges, following the recent arraignment of former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN).