Nasir El-Rufai ₦1 Billion Lawsuit Against ICPC, The Court Renders A New Ruling
On Wednesday, the Federal High Court in Abuja voiced further worries with the ₦1 billion basic rights enforcement lawsuit that former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai brought against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and four other parties.
When El-Rufai’s attorney, Ugochukwu Nnakwu, informed the court that the second respondent, a magistrate, had not yet been served, the sitting judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, expressed displeasure. On Wednesday, all parties were represented in court, with the exception of the second respondent.
Additionally, during the day’s proceedings, Isaac Akwo, the ICPC’s attorney, asked that the case be postponed until midday so that his senior, Abdu Mohammed (SAN), could appear. However, the court turned him down because of another commitment.
Nnakwu was asked by Justice Abdulmalik to identify the magistrate mentioned in the lawsuit. In order to normalise the procedure, Nnakwu requested an adjournment after acknowledging the judge’s intervention.
The attorneys for other respondents, such as R.N. Maiguru (Inspector-General of Police) and Chima Augustine (Attorney-General of the Federation), did not oppose El-Rufai’s application.
After that, Justice Abdulmalik directed that a hearing notice be sent to the second respondent and postponed the hearing of the pending request until March 31.
Recall that El-Rufai had criticised the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Enforcement Commission (ICPC) for allegedly invading his Abuja home illegally in a ₦1 billion fundamental rights enforcement lawsuit.
El-Rufai named the Chief Magistrate, Magistrate’s Court of the FCT, Abuja Magisterial District, Inspector-General of Police, and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) as the second and fourth respondents, respectively, in a lawsuit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
El-Rufai filed a lawsuit through his attorneys, led by Oluwole Iyamu, asking the court to rule that the search warrant that was issued on February 4 by the Chief Magistrate, Magistrate’s Court of the FCT (2nd respondent), allowing the search and seizure at his home, was void.
In addition, he asked for a thorough inventory and the return of every item taken during the procedure.
In a counter-affidavit, the ICPC claimed to have received a petition against El-Rufai and to have carried out the search in accordance with a legitimate warrant that was obtained on February 18.
Additionally, the Nigerian Police argued that their activities were legal and asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to reject the former governor’s fundamental rights enforcement lawsuit.
El-Rufai is trying to use the court to protect himself from a genuine inquiry and potential prosecution, according to the police.
