A legal battle has emerged between former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) following a controversial search of his Abuja residence.
El-Rufai has asked the Federal High Court to declare the operation unlawful, arguing that the warrant used by anti-corruption operatives and police to enter his home was invalid and violated his constitutional rights.
Through his legal team led by Oluwole Iyamu (SAN), the former governor is seeking to nullify the search warrant on grounds that it lacked clarity, proper legal justification, and specific details of items to be seized.
He also requested the court to order the return of all materials taken during the search and to prevent authorities from relying on any recovered items in future investigations or proceedings. In addition, El-Rufai is demanding ₦1 billion in damages, citing emotional distress, reputational harm, and what he described as abuse of investigative powers.
Court filings indicate that the search was carried out in February by a joint team of ICPC officials and police officers at his Abuja residence.
His lawyers maintain that the action amounted to an unconstitutional invasion of his privacy and personal liberty, setting the stage for a significant court showdown over the legality of the operation.
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