The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled December 2 for the judgment in a 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 (IGP), and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik presided over the proceedings and fixed the date after both parties presented their arguments. The case revolves around El-Rufai's claim for N1 billion in damages following a search conducted at his residence on February 19, which he alleges violated his constitutional rights.

During the hearing, El-Rufai's lawyer arrived late, prompting the judge to deem all previously filed processes as adopted. Meanwhile, representatives for the ICPC, IGP, and AGF urged the court to dismiss the suit, asserting that their actions were lawful and backed by a valid search warrant.

El-Rufai's legal team initially included the Chief Magistrate of the Magistrate’s Court of the FCT as a respondent, but later dropped this claim due to difficulties in identifying the magistrate involved. The former governor's suit contends that the ICPC and IGP's actions during the search amounted to a gross violation of his fundamental rights, including dignity, personal liberty, and privacy as protected under the Nigerian Constitution.

In his originating motion, El-Rufai sought several declarations from the court, including a ruling that any evidence obtained from the search should be deemed inadmissible in any legal proceedings against him. He also requested an injunction preventing the respondents from using or presenting any seized items in court.

The ICPC countered El-Rufai's claims by stating that they acted on a petition against him, which justified the search of his residence. They maintained that the search was conducted under a valid warrant issued by a competent court. The commission's officials were reportedly accompanied by police personnel during the operation, which was observed by El-Rufai's wife and son.

The IGP's legal representative argued that the search was executed in accordance with legal procedures and that El-Rufai's suit was an attempt to evade a legitimate investigation. Similarly, the AGF's counsel argued that the suit was an abuse of court processes, noting that El-Rufai had two other pending cases on the same matter in the FCT High Court.

As the court prepares to deliver its judgment, the implications of this case could resonate beyond El-Rufai, potentially impacting the operations of anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria.