The Inspector General of Police (IGP) has petitioned the Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a rights enforcement lawsuit filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who is seeking ₦1 billion in damages.
El-Rufai’s suit names 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) as respondents. The former governor’s legal action challenges a recent police search of his Asokoro residence, during which certain items were reportedly recovered by law enforcement officials.
In response, the IGP filed a counter-affidavit defending the search as lawful, asserting that El-Rufai is attempting to use the lawsuit to evade ongoing investigations and potential prosecution. According to the police, the search was conducted in accordance with a valid court-issued warrant and followed all statutory procedures.
“The police have constitutional and statutory duties to detect, investigate, and prosecute criminal activities. The search of El-Rufai’s residence was properly authorised and executed in line with legal requirements,” the IGP stated in the counter-affidavit. The police also dismissed claims by El-Rufai that the warrant was invalid.
During Thursday’s court session, El-Rufai’s counsel, Ubong Akpan, informed Justice Joyce Abdulmalik that while he had replied to the ICPC’s counter-affidavit, he had not yet filed a response to the IGP’s submission.
With no objections from counsel representing the ICPC and the IGP—Abdulsufianu Abubakar and Ezekiel Rimamsomte, respectively—Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter to March 25 for further hearing. The court also directed that hearing notices be served on the second respondent, a Chief Magistrate of the FCT, and the fourth respondent, the AGF, who were absent from proceedings.
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