Operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) yesterday returned former Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai to their custody after the resumed hearing of his bail application at the Federal High Court in Kaduna.
The court adjourned hearing of the bail application filed by former Kaduna State Governor till today. His counsel, Ubong Akpan (SAN), who declined detailed comments on the proceedings, confirmed the development shortly after yesterday’s court session.
“I’m sorry, I can’t talk now, we are in the middle of work. I have to go and file responses. The hearing of the bail application has been adjourned till tomorrow,” Ubong Akpan said. The former governor was subsequently taken away from the court premises by ICPC operatives in a white Hilux vehicle.
He had returned to the Federal High Court amid tight security for the hearing of his bail application in an ongoing corruption trial.
The heavy security presence mirrored the situation during his arraignment last week, when he was first brought before the court. El-Rufai had been arraigned before Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa on a 10-count charge bordering on alleged conversion and possession of public property, as well as money laundering.
The court had fixed March 31, 2026, for the hearing of pending applications, including his bail request. However, on March 27, 2026, the ICPC released him on compassionate grounds following the death of his mother, Hajiya Ummar El-Rufai, in Cairo, Egypt.
El-Rufai was earlier arraigned before a Kaduna State High Court sitting in Kawo on separate charges.
At the State High Court, he was docked alongside one Amadu Sule on allegations ranging from abuse of office and fraud with intent to commit fraud and conferring undue advantage. The charges, also instituted by the ICPC, are distinct from those before the Federal High Court.
After the State High Court proceedings, the commission moved El-Rufai to the Federal High Court, located within the same premises.
El-Rufai yesterday withdrew his fundamental rights enforcement suit against a chief magistrate at the FCT Magistrate’s Court, named as 2nd defendant, in the N1 billion case. His lawyer, Ugochukwu Nnakwu, informed Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja, shortly after the case was called to hear his motion ex-parte.
The withdrawal followed Justice Abdulmalik’s observation yesterday, when the matter was heard.
The judge picked holes in the suit for failure to specify the magistrate who was sued as 2nd defendant. Nnakwu then sought an adjournment to properly identify the name of the magistrate being used.
Upon resumed hearing on Tuesday, Nnakwu informed the court that the matter was scheduled for the hearing of their motion ex-parte for substituted service of all court documents on the 2nd defendant (magistrate). He, however, said that a motion to withdraw the suit against the 2nd defendant had been filed.
The lawyer informed that the motion, dated March 30, was filed same date.
“We urge my lord to strike out the name of the 2nd defendant as a party in this suit,” Nnakwu prayed. He equally asked the court to strike out their earlier motion ex-parte before it. Ezekiel Rimamsomte, who appeared for the police; Maimuna Shiru, who represented the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), and Abdul Mohammed, SAN, counsel for Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), did not oppose the application.
Justice Abdulmalik, in a short ruling, struck out the magistrate’s name from the suit and also struck out the motion ex-parte. Nnakwu then sought an adjournment to enable him amend the suit. But Mohammed disagreed with the lawyer’s request to amend the suit.
Mohammed, who called the attention of the court to reliefs one, two and three in the former governor’s suit, said the prayers complained about the magistrate’s search warrant issued to the investigating agency. According to the senior lawyer, having struck out the name of the 2nd defendant, it means there is no case before this court.
Responding, the judge told Mohammed to be patient to allow the plaintiff to do his case the way he wants. “Counsel (addressing Mohammed), you are jumping the gun. You can respond to this by filing a counter affidavit,” she said.
Justice Abdulmalik consequently adjourned the matter until June 17 at the instance of Nnakwu to enable him file an amended process. El-Rufai is demanding a N1 billion in damages against ICPC, the Chief Magistrate at the Magistrate’s Court of the FCT, Abuja; IG and the AGF, named as 1st to 4th respondents respectively.
The former governor, in an originating motion on notice marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026, dated and filed February 20 by Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, sought seven reliefs.
He prayed the court to declare that the invasion and search of his residence at House 12, Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja, on February 19 at about 2pm by ICPC and IG, amounts to a gross violation of the applicant’s fundamental rights .
El-Rufai said that it was a violation to dignity of the human person, personal liberty, fair hearing, and privacy under Sections 34, 35, 36, and 37 of the Constitution.” He 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.”
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