By Ayomide Otitoju
The Nigeria Police Force, through the Inspector General of Police, has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
El-Rufai is seeking ₦1 billion in damages against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Chief Magistrate Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the IGP, and the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
The suit challenges the recent search of his residence in Asokoro, Abuja, by law enforcement agents, during which some items were reportedly recovered.
In a counter-affidavit filed before the court, the IGP defended the operation, arguing that the search was conducted based on a valid warrant issued by a competent court and in accordance with due legal procedures. The police further accused El-Rufai of attempting to use the court action as a shield against investigation and possible prosecution.
According to the police chief, the force has statutory authority to detect, arrest, investigate, and prosecute criminal offences, and the warrant used for the search was lawfully issued and properly executed.
At Thursday’s proceedings, counsel to El-Rufai, Ubong Akpan, informed the court that he had yet to respond to the counter-affidavit filed by the IGP, although he had already filed a reply to the submission of the ICPC.
Counsel for the ICPC, Abdulsufianu Abubakar, and the police, Ezekiel Rimamsomte, raised no objection when Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjourned the case until March 25 for hearing.
The court also directed that hearing notices be issued and served on the second respondent, a Chief Magistrate of the FCT, and the fourth respondent, the Attorney-General of the Federation, who were not represented at the session.
