*Nasir El-Rufai.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday dismissed a suit by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai seeking to stop the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and other agencies from freezing his bank accounts or seizing his properties.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ruled that the case amounted to an abuse of court process. She noted that El-Rufai had already filed a similar suit at the FCT High Court. The judge agreed with the respondents that a court cannot be used to stop law enforcement agencies from carrying out their statutory duties. She described the suit as speculative and without merit.
The court also struck out the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) from the case, holding that no reasonable cause of action had been disclosed against them.
El-Rufai filed the originating summons (FHC/ABJ/CS/368/2026) on 24 February through his lawyer, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN. He asked the court for an interim injunction to maintain the status quo and prevent any freezing or seizure of his assets. He listed several accounts held at Zenith Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, and Access Bank, and argued that his severance pay from his 2015–2023 tenure as governor could not be treated as proceeds of unlawful activity. He also sought declarations protecting his right to the presumption of innocence and a perpetual injunction against any interference with the listed assets, plus ₦1 billion in damages and ₦100 million in costs.
In its preliminary objection, the ICPC argued that El-Rufai’s arrest, the search of his residence, and any anticipated asset-tracing steps formed part of one continuous investigation. It said the former governor had filed three overlapping suits in two different courts within 12 days, amounting to forum shopping and an abuse of process.
The DSS and AGF also filed objections, contending that the claims were speculative and that interim forfeiture applications do not breach fundamental rights.
Justice Abdulmalik upheld the objections and dismissed the suit.