The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has urged the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to dismiss a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
El-Rufai is demanding ₦1 billion in damages over what he described as an unlawful search carried out by law enforcement agents at his residence in the Asokoro district of Abuja. The former governor filed the suit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Chief Magistrate Court of the Federal Capital Territory, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
According to court documents, the lawsuit challenges a search operation conducted at El-Rufai’s home by security operatives. The former governor argued that the action infringed upon his constitutional rights, insisting that the search was unjustified and demanding compensation from the agencies involved. Reports indicate that during the operation, officials recovered certain items from the property.
However, in a counter-affidavit submitted before the court, the police leadership defended the conduct of the operation, maintaining that the search was carried out strictly within the boundaries of the law. The police argued that the action was based on a valid search warrant issued by a competent court and executed in line with established legal procedures.
The Inspector-General further alleged that the lawsuit was an attempt by El-Rufai to obstruct an ongoing investigation and possibly avoid future prosecution. The police emphasized that, under Nigerian law, the force possesses the statutory powers to detect crimes, investigate suspects, make arrests, and initiate prosecution where necessary.
Responding to claims that the warrant used during the search was defective or invalid, the police insisted that the document was properly obtained and legally binding. Officers involved in the operation, according to the affidavit, complied with all the required protocols while carrying out the search.
During Thursday’s court session, El-Rufai’s lawyer, Ubong Akpan, told the court that he had not yet filed a response to the counter-affidavit submitted by the police, although he had already replied to the submission filed by the ICPC.
Legal representatives for both the ICPC and the police—Abdulsufianu Abubakar and Ezekiel Rimamsomte respectively—raised no objection to the request for additional time to respond.
Presiding judge, Joyce Abdulmalik, subsequently adjourned the matter until March 25 for further hearing. The court also directed that hearing notices be issued and served on the second and fourth respondents—the Chief Magistrate of the FCT Magistrate Court and the Attorney-General of the Federation—who were not present during the proceedings.
The case is expected to continue later this month, when the court will consider the arguments from all parties before deciding whether the suit should proceed or be dismissed.
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