KEY POINTS

• The IGP has asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss Nasir El-Rufai’s N1 billion rights enforcement suit over the search of his residence.

• Police insist the search was lawful and carried out with a valid warrant issued by a competent court.

• The court adjourned the case to March 25 for hearing after El-Rufai’s lawyer sought time to respond to the police counter-affidavit.

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai.

El-Rufai had approached the court seeking N1 billion in compensation against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Chief Magistrate Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the IGP, and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF). His suit challenges the search carried out at his residence in Asokoro, Abuja, by law enforcement operatives.

In a counter-affidavit filed before the court, the IGP defended the search of El-Rufai’s residence, insisting that the action was conducted lawfully based on a valid search warrant issued by a competent court.

The police leadership argued that El-Rufai’s suit was an attempt to obstruct ongoing investigations and possibly evade prosecution. It maintained that law enforcement agencies possess the statutory powers to detect crimes, arrest suspects, investigate offences, and prosecute offenders.

According to the IGP, officers involved in the operation executed the search warrant in strict compliance with legal procedures. The police also rejected the former governor’s claim that the warrant was invalid.

Court Adjourns Case for Hearing

Proceedings in the case were brief after El-Rufai’s lawyer, Ubong Akpan, informed the court that he had not yet responded to the counter-affidavit filed by the IGP, although he had already filed a response to that of the ICPC.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the matter to March 25 for hearing. The adjournment followed the absence of objections from lawyers representing the IGP and ICPC, Abdulsufianu Abubakar and Ezekiel Rimamsomte.

The court also directed that hearing notices be issued and served on the second respondent, a Chief Magistrate of the FCT, and the Attorney-General of the Federation, who were not represented during the proceedings.

In his application, El-Rufai is seeking a declaration that the search warrant issued on February 4 by a Chief Magistrate in the FCT was null and void. The warrant authorised the search of his residence and the seizure of certain items.

He argued that the warrant lacked specificity and contained drafting errors, ambiguous execution terms, and no probable cause. According to him, the search conducted on February 19 by ICPC and police operatives violated his constitutional rights.