The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed December 2, 2026, for judgment in a ₦1 billion fundamental rights suit filed by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General of the Federation.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik scheduled the judgment on Tuesday, October 27, after lawyers representing the parties adopted their court processes and presented their final positions on the dispute. 

El-Rufai is challenging the search of his Abuja residence by ICPC operatives and police officers on February 19, 2026. He alleges that the operation violated his constitutional rights to dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing and privacy, and is asking the court to award him ₦1 billion in general, exemplary and aggravated damages.

The former governor is also seeking a declaration that the search was unlawful, an order preventing the respondents from using or tendering items seized during the operation in investigations or proceedings involving him, and the return of the seized property alongside a detailed inventory. 

When the matter was called, El-Rufai’s counsel, Ubong Akpan, was initially absent. The judge consequently deemed the processes filed on behalf of the former governor as adopted. Akpan later arrived, apologised for his lateness and sought permission to adopt the documents, but the court informed him that the processes had already been deemed adopted. 

Counsel to the ICPC, Abdul Mohammed, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, adopted the commission’s processes and urged the court to dismiss the suit. The lawyer representing the Inspector-General of Police, Assistant Commissioner of Police Ezekiel Rimamsomte, and the Attorney-General’s representative, Maimuna Lami-Shiru, also adopted their respective submissions and asked the court to reject El-Rufai’s claims.

In its response, the ICPC maintained that the search followed a petition against El-Rufai and was conducted under a valid search warrant issued by a competent court. The commission said its operatives were accompanied by police personnel and that the operation was witnessed by El-Rufai’s wife, Hadiza, and his son, Mohammed. The police similarly argued that the search was authorised by a valid warrant and fell within their statutory responsibilities. 

The Attorney-General of the Federation also urged the court to dismiss the case, arguing that the ICPC and police acted within their statutory powers. The AGF further contended that the suit amounted to an abuse of court process because El-Rufai had other pending cases concerning the same subject matter before the FCT High Court.

The December 2 judgment will determine the outcome of the claims in this particular case. Until the court delivers its decision, El-Rufai’s allegations of rights violations and the respondents’ defence that the search was lawfully conducted remain contested positions before the court.