Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has withdrawn his fundamental rights enforcement suit against a magistrate in his N1bn claim before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The development followed concerns raised by the trial judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, over the improper identification of the magistrate listed as the second defendant in the suit.
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, counsel to El-Rufai, Ugochukwu Nnakwu, informed the court of a motion filed on March 30 seeking to discontinue the case against the magistrate.
He also urged the court to strike out the magistrate’s name and a pending ex parte application for substituted service.
Lawyers representing the respondents—including the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Nigeria Police Force, and the Attorney-General of the Federation—did not oppose the application.
In a brief ruling, Justice Abdulmalik struck out the magistrate’s name from the suit and dismissed the ex parte motion.
Following the ruling, El-Rufai’s counsel sought an adjournment to amend the originating processes.
However, counsel for the ICPC, Abdul Mohammed (SAN), opposed the request, arguing that the case had become incompetent without the magistrate, whose actions were central to the dispute.
The judge, however, disagreed, cautioning against pre-empting proceedings and advising the defence to file appropriate responses instead.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to June 17 to allow the plaintiff to amend his filings.
El-Rufai had filed the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026, seeking N1bn in damages and other reliefs over a search conducted at his Asokoro residence in Abuja on February 19, 2026.
He alleged that the operation violated his fundamental rights to dignity, liberty, fair hearing, and privacy, and is seeking to have any evidence obtained during the search declared inadmissible.
In response, the ICPC and the police maintained that the search was carried out lawfully, based on a valid warrant issued by a competent court, and in the presence of his family members.
They urged the court to dismiss the suit, describing it as an attempt to obstruct ongoing investigations.
