The Federal High Court in Abuja has authorised the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to play selected portions of its closed-circuit television (CCTV) recordings in the N10 billion fundamental rights suit instituted by former
Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai.
Justice Chigozie Onah gave the ruling while deciding separate applications filed by the parties, limiting each side to 20 minutes to present relevant portions of the footage in open court.
The decision followed el-Rufai’s request for the complete recordings, which reportedly cover more than six hours.
However, the judge declined to grant the request, agreeing with the ICPC’s counsel, Yetunde Mosunmola, that the footage contained sensitive security information that could compromise the commission’s facility if disclosed publicly in its entirety.
Justice Onah stated that the complete recordings could be viewed in his chambers if necessary.
The court also rejected el-Rufai’s application seeking to compel two ICPC officials who swore affidavits in the commission’s court processes to appear for cross-examination.
The judge explained that fundamental rights enforcement proceedings are sui generis, meaning they are governed by a distinct procedure, and that the case would be determined on affidavit evidence.
Justice Onah subsequently directed that the selected portions of the CCTV footage be played at 1pm and adjourned the matter until November 3 for the definite hearing of the substantive applications.
Meanwhile, media personnel Mohammed Doka has called on Nigerians to use their votes in the 2027 general elections to express their displeasure over el-Rufai’s continued detention.
Doka, in a statement published on the former governor’s X account on Thursday, described him as a “caged lion” and urged his supporters and other Nigerians to resist intimidation, maintain peace and mobilise voters ahead of the elections.
He also alleged that the former governor’s continued detention had assumed a political dimension, amid concerns among some political actors about his influence ahead of the 2027 polls.
According to Doka, the situation has heightened public frustration, with some political figures allegedly favouring his continued custody until after the elections.
The claims about the political motivations behind el-Rufai’s detention were allegations made by Doka.
