By Suleiman Aremu | Solaremnews | Monday 19, October, 2026
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting in Abuja, has dismissed a ₦120 million fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, against the Department of State Services (DSS), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
Justice Sylvanus Oriji, who delivered the judgment on Monday, October 19, 2026, held that the suit lacked merit and substance, awarding ₦200,000 in costs against El-Rufai in favour of each of the four respondents.
The ruling followed El-Rufai’s challenge to the actions of the security and anti-corruption agencies, which he alleged violated his fundamental rights.
The former governor had sought ₦120 million in damages over invitation letters issued by the EFCC and ICPC, an alleged attempt by the DSS to arrest him at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, and the seizure of his international passport.
Delivering judgment, Justice Oriji held that the invitation letters issued by the EFCC and ICPC for El-Rufai to appear for questioning over allegations against him met constitutional requirements and did not violate his fundamental rights.
The judge maintained that the agencies acted within their statutory mandates by inviting the former governor to provide information on matters under investigation.
On the attempted arrest at the Abuja airport, the court upheld the DSS’s position that it had the statutory authority to maintain watchlists and take appropriate action against persons of interest in the discharge of its duties.
Justice Oriji also rejected El-Rufai’s argument that the attempted arrest was unlawful because it was not backed by a warrant, citing the legal framework governing the operations of the security agency, including the National Security Agencies Act.
The court further held that El-Rufai could not use the judicial process to prevent security and anti-corruption agencies from performing their lawful statutory responsibilities.
On the seizure of his international passport, the judge ruled that the action was within the DSS’s powers, adding that the former governor had failed to establish that the seizure was continuing, permanent and unlawful.
Consequently, the court dismissed the suit in its entirety for lacking merit.
The court also ordered El-Rufai to pay ₦200,000 each to the DSS, EFCC, ICPC and the Attorney-General of the Federation, bringing the total legal costs awarded against him to ₦800,000.
The case forms part of the wider legal challenges facing the former governor over allegations connected to the alleged interception of telephone conversations involving National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
El-Rufai had previously made claims during an interview on Arise Television that someone had intercepted Ribadu’s telephone communications, enabling him to hear an alleged directive concerning his arrest. The controversy subsequently led to separate legal proceedings over the alleged interception of telephone conversations.
The former governor has denied the legality of the actions he challenged in the fundamental rights suit, arguing that the conduct of the agencies infringed on his constitutional rights.
Monday’s judgment, however, resolves the particular ₦120 million claim against the four respondents, with the court finding insufficient grounds to grant the reliefs sought by El-Rufai.
The decision does not, by itself, determine the outcome of any separate criminal proceedings or other pending cases involving the former governor.
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