A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday dismissed a suit filed by former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai seeking to restrain the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and other agencies from freezing his bank accounts and assets.
Justice Abdulmalik held that the suit was speculative, lacked merit and disclosed no reasonable cause of action against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Attorney-General of the Federation. The judge consequently struck out the names of those three respondents from the case.
The suit, dated February 23, 2026 and filed the following day by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Oluwole Iyamu, asked the court for an interim injunction directing the respondents to maintain the status quo. El-Rufai argued that the order was necessary to prevent a fait accompli and sought declarations that his severance pay received after leaving office as governor between 2015 and 2023 could not reasonably be suspected as proceeds of unlawful activity, and that properties purchased with the money were lawfully acquired.
He listed specific accounts he wanted protected: Zenith Bank Naira account 1007158671 and domiciliary account 5071511327; Guaranty Trust Bank account 0023824978; and Access Bank dollar account 1396386493 and Naira account 1396382103.
El-Rufai further asked the court to declare that any attempt by the respondents to obtain interim or final forfeiture or freezing orders without first establishing reasonable suspicion backed by credible evidence would breach his rights. Citing Section 17(1) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and the Supreme Court decision in Melrose General Services Ltd v. EFCC, he insisted he was entitled to the presumption of innocence under Section 36(5) of the Constitution and the principles of fair hearing. He sought a perpetual injunction restraining the agencies from freezing, attaching, seizing or forfeiting the listed accounts and properties, plus N1 billion in general, exemplary and aggravated damages and N100 million in costs.
In a preliminary objection, the ICPC, through Abdul Mohammed, SAN, urged the court to dismiss the suit as incompetent and an abuse of process. The commission said El-Rufai’s arrest, the search of his residence and the anticipated asset tracing formed part of a single, ongoing criminal investigation. It argued that the former governor had engaged in forum shopping by filing three parallel suits across two court hierarchies within 12 days instead of consolidating his grievances.
The court agreed with the ICPC, EFCC, DSS and AGF that a court cannot be used to prevent law enforcement agencies from carrying out their statutory duties.
A story of courage, wonder, and the transformative power of self-belief; perfect for readers aged 10+ who love adventure. To place order: +234 806 130 3237 | +234 803 582 0870 OR Tap the link to grab a copy:https://www.zeekapublish.com/product/the-magical-life-of-anna
