Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over the alleged unlawful invasion and search of his Abuja residence.

In the suit, El-Rufai is challenging the validity of a search warrant issued by a magistrate court on February 4, which authorized ICPC operatives to search and seize items at his home. He argues that the warrant was defective and violated his constitutional rights to dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing, and privacy.

El-Rufai, who has been in ICPC custody since February 18, is seeking a declaration that the search and seizure were unlawful and an order restraining the ICPC from relying on any evidence obtained during the operation. He also wants the court to direct the ICPC to return all seized items and provide a detailed inventory.

The former governor is claiming N1 billion in damages for alleged trespass, unlawful seizure, psychological trauma, and reputational harm. He argues that the ICPC’s actions were malicious and oppressive, and that the warrant was overbroad and lacked specificity.

El-Rufai’s lawyer, Oluwole Iyamu, contends that the warrant was null and void due to lack of particularity, material drafting errors, and ambiguity in execution parameters. He alleges that the ICPC’s actions were a clear abuse of power and an attempt to harass his client.

The ICPC has yet to respond to the suit, and the matter is pending before the Federal High Court in Abuja.