A former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has filed a N1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission over the alleged unlawful invasion and search of his Abuja residence.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026 and filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on February 20 by his counsel, Oluwole Iyamu (SAN), El-Rufai is challenging the validity of a search warrant issued on February 4 by a Chief Magistrate of the FCT Magistrates’ Court.

He is asking the court to declare the warrant authorising the search and seizure at his residence invalid, null and void.

According to the application, the former governor contended that the warrant was “null and void for lack of particularity, material drafting errors, ambiguity in execution parameters, overbreadth, and absence of probable cause, thereby constituting an unlawful and unreasonable search in violation of Section 37 of the Constitution.”

El-Rufai listed the ICPC as the first respondent, while the Chief Magistrate of the FCT Magistrates’ Court, Abuja Magisterial District, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Attorney-General of the Federation were named as second to fourth respondents, respectively.

He is seeking seven reliefs, including a declaration that the invasion and search of his residence at House 12, Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja, on February 19 at about 2 p.m., allegedly carried out by operatives of the ICPC and the Nigeria Police Force under the disputed warrant, violated his fundamental rights.

Specifically, he asked the court to declare that the search “amounts to a gross violation of the applicant’s fundamental rights to dignity of the human person, personal liberty, fair hearing, and privacy under Sections 34, 35, 36, and 37 of the Constitution.”

He further urged the court to declare that “any evidence obtained pursuant to the aforesaid invalid warrant and unlawful search is inadmissible in any proceedings against the applicant, as it was procured in breach of constitutional safeguards.”

Among other prayers, El-Rufai is seeking an order restraining the respondents from relying on or tendering any items seized during the search in any investigation or prosecution involving him.

He also asked for “an order directing the 1st and 3rd respondents (ICPC and I-G) to forthwith return all items seized from the applicant’s premises during the unlawful search, together with a detailed inventory thereof.”

In addition, he is demanding “the sum of N1,000,000,000.00 (One Billion Naira) as general, exemplary, and aggravated damages against the respondents jointly and severally for the violations of the applicant’s fundamental rights, including trespass, unlawful seizure, and the resultant psychological trauma, humiliation, distress, infringement of privacy, and reputational harm.”

The former governor broke down the N1 billion claim into N300 million as compensatory damages for psychological trauma and emotional distress; N400 million as exemplary damages to deter future misconduct by law enforcement agencies; and N300 million as aggravated damages for what he described as the malicious and oppressive nature of the respondents’ actions.

He also sought N100 million as the cost of filing the suit, covering legal fees and associated expenses.

In his grounds of argument, Iyamu maintained that the warrant was fundamentally defective, citing lack of specificity in the description of items to be seized, material typographical errors, ambiguous execution terms, overbroad directives and absence of verifiable probable cause.

Nigeria’s worsening security situation has drawn a fresh warning from the International Human Rights Commission – Relief Fund Trust (IHRC-RFT), Nigeria Chapter.

The group said the country’s democratic institutions will be judged by how they respond to the growing wave of violence across the nation.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the IHRC said the National Assembly must take urgent and visible action to address the crisis affecting citizens in many parts of the country.

The Commission praised Alhassan Ado Doguwa for raising alarm on the floor of the House of Representatives in November 2025. It described his intervention as bold and necessary at a time when insecurity has become a daily fear for Nigerians.

Doguwa had warned that Nigeria was running in blood and tears. The IHRC said his words captured the reality of communities under attack and families living in grief.

According to the Commission, farmers have fled their farmlands, villages have been forced to relocate, worship centres have been targeted, and innocent citizens have lost their lives in different regions of the country.

The rights group said Doguwa’s statement should have triggered immediate action from lawmakers. It added that leadership must go beyond speeches and turn concern into policy and oversight.

However, the Commission expressed disappointment that months after the warning, Nigerians have not seen any clear improvement in security.

“The frequency of violent incidents across multiple regions continues to raise grave concern,” the statement said.

The group also questioned the leadership of the National Assembly over what steps have been taken since the lawmaker’s appeal.

“Mr. Rt. Hon. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Distinguished President of the Senate; where does this matter currently stand?” the statement asked.

“Why has decisive and visible legislative action not followed the passionate appeal made on the floor by Hon. Ado Doguwa?”

The IHRC noted that security is a constitutional duty and should not be treated as a routine political issue. It said failure to act could weaken public confidence in democracy and allow criminal groups to grow stronger.

“Security challenges of this magnitude require more than debate; they require coordinated legislative oversight, emergency frameworks, intelligence reform, and strict accountability mechanisms,” the Commission stated.

It stressed that the crisis affects all Nigerians and is not based on religion, region, or political party.

The group also clarified that it does not belong to any political movement.

“We align with principles, the protection of human life, dignity, and fundamental rights,” the statement said.

It added that while Doguwa deserved praise for speaking out, real change would only come from collective action by lawmakers in both chambers of the National Assembly.

“Nigerians deserve to see outcomes, not only expressions of concern,” the Commission said.

The IHRC concluded that the time for statements has passed and that urgent steps must now be taken to protect lives and restore public trust.

“History will judge institutions not by the intensity of their debates, but by the effectiveness of their response. The time to act is now.”

Barr. Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has declared Friday a work-free day ahead of the February 21 area council elections.