KEY POINTS

• El-Rufai is suing anti-corruption and law-enforcement authorities for ₦1 billion over an alleged unlawful search of his Abuja home.
• He argues the search warrant was defective, unconstitutional, and invalid under Nigerian law.
• He seeks damages, return of seized property, and a court order barring use of any evidence obtained from the raid.

Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai has instituted a ₦1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission over what he describes as an unlawful raid on his Abuja residence.

Through his lawyer, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, he is contesting the legality of a search warrant issued on February 4 by a Chief Magistrate of the FCT Magistrate Court, listed as the second respondent. Other respondents in the suit include the Nigeria Police Force and the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation.

Claims of Constitutional Rights Violations

El-Rufai is asking the court to declare the warrant invalid, arguing it lacked specificity, contained drafting errors, and failed to establish probable cause.

He maintains that the February 19 search of his Aso Drive residence violated his constitutional rights to dignity, liberty, fair hearing, and privacy.

He also wants the court to rule that any materials seized during the operation cannot be used in investigations or prosecutions, insisting they were obtained unlawfully.

According to court filings, his legal team argues the warrant violated provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and the ICPC Act, citing alleged defects such as vague item descriptions, typographical mistakes, and overbroad authorization.

They also referenced past judicial precedents which held that evidence obtained through improper searches should be excluded.