FORMER Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has instituted a N1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), accusing the anti-graft agency of unlawfully invading and searching his residence in Abuja.
News Point Nigeria reports that the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026, was filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja. In the originating motion, the former governor is asking the court to nullify a search warrant issued by a magistrate court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on February 4, 2026.
According to court documents, the disputed warrant authorised ICPC operatives to search El-Rufai’s residence and seize items deemed relevant to an ongoing investigation.
Through his legal team led by Oluwole Iyamu, the former governor is seeking a judicial declaration that the warrant was invalid and that all actions carried out pursuant to it were unlawful.
He is also urging the court to set aside any outcome of the search, arguing that the operation violated established legal procedures and his constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights.
El-Rufai has been in the custody of the ICPC since Wednesday, February 18, 2026, in connection with investigations being conducted by the anti-corruption agency.
However, official details regarding the nature and scope of the probe have yet to be disclosed.
The development has heightened political and legal tensions, given El-Rufai’s prominence in national politics and his recent activities on the political scene.
On Thursday, El-Rufai’s media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, confirmed the search operation in a post on social media.
“UPDATE: The Aso Drive residence of Malam Nasir @elrufai was today searched by the ICPC,” Adekeye wrote.
He further quoted El-Rufai’s lawyer, Ubong Akpan, as condemning the action “as unlawful, and a clear violation of legal procedures and fundamental rights.”
The case is expected to test the limits of investigative powers granted to anti-corruption agencies, particularly regarding the issuance and execution of search warrants.
As proceedings commence at the Federal High Court, attention will be focused on whether the court upholds the validity of the search warrant or grants the reliefs sought by the former governor.