El-Rufai sues ICPC, others over alleged unlawful search of his Abuja house
Naija News • 6d ago
**Former Kaduna Governor Takes ICPC to Court over Alleged Unlawful Search of Abuja Home**
In a shocking turn of events, Nasir El-Rufai, the immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, has taken the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and three others to court over what he claims was an unlawful search of his Abuja home. The search, carried out by agents of the ICPC and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), allegedly took place on February 19 at about 2 pm at his residence in Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja.
El-Rufai is suing the ICPC, the Chief Magistrate of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the IGP, and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) for allegedly violating his fundamental rights to dignity of the human person, personal liberty, fair hearing, and privacy. He is seeking a whopping N1 billion in damages for the alleged unlawful invasion of his home.
According to El-Rufai, the search warrant issued by the Chief Magistrate on February 4 was fundamentally defective and lacked specificity in describing the items to be seized. It also contained material typographical errors, had ambiguous execution terms, and included overbroad directives. Furthermore, the search warrant did not meet the requirements of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, which requires that an application for a search warrant be supported by information in writing and on oath, setting forth reasonable grounds for suspicion.
The ICPC's actions, El-Rufai claims, constitute a gross violation of constitutional safeguards and the rights of citizens to protection against arbitrary intrusions. He wants the court to declare that the search warrant was null and void and that any evidence obtained as a result of the search is inadmissible in any proceedings against him.
This development raises important questions about the limits of state power and the protection of individual rights in Nigeria. As the country continues to grapple with issues of corruption and good governance, the ICPC's actions will be closely watched by observers who will be eager to see how the court rules on this matter.
**Conclusion:**
The case of Nasir El-Rufai vs ICPC and others has the potential to set important precedents for the protection of individual rights in Nigeria. As the country continues to navigate the complex issues of corruption and governance, it is essential that the rule of law is upheld and that