By George Omagbemi Sylvester
The Inspector‑General of Police (IGP) has urged a Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss the N1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El‑Rufai, contending that the legal action is an attempt to shield him from ongoing investigations and prosecution. The development surfaced during proceedings on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at the Federal High Court before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.
El‑Rufai’s suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026), filed on February 20, 2026, names the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) as the first respondent, alongside the Chief Magistrate of the FCT Magistrate’s Court, the IGP and the Attorney‑General of the Federation (AGF) as co‑respondents. He is seeking ₦1 billion in damages over what he describes as an unlawful search and invasion of his Abuja residence at No. 12 Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, carried out on February 19, 2026, alleging violations of his constitutional rights to dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing and privacy.
In its counter‑affidavit, the police argued that the February search was conducted under a validly issued court warrant and maintained that police officers acted within their statutory powers of investigation and prosecution, rejecting claims that the warrant was defective. The IGP urged the court to dismiss El‑Rufai’s suit in its entirety, framing it as a tactic to halt proper legal processes against him.
Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the case until March 25, 2026, to allow all parties to regularise their legal filings and to respond fully to counter‑affidavits, particularly the one filed by the police.
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