A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama, Abuja, has dismissed a ₦120 million fundamental rights 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. Justice Sylvanus Oriji ruled that El-Rufai failed to establish that the actions of the agencies violated his fundamental rights.
The suit challenged actions involving the anti-corruption and security agencies, including invitations to appear for questioning over allegations against him, an attempted arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and the seizure of his international passport. El-Rufai had argued that the actions infringed on his constitutional rights.
In delivering judgment, Justice Oriji held that the invitation letters issued by the EFCC and ICPC did not violate El-Rufai’s rights. The court also upheld the DSS’s authority to place persons of interest on its watchlist and take appropriate action where legally justified. It further ruled that El-Rufai had not provided sufficient evidence to establish that the passport seizure was continuous, permanent and unlawful.
The court dismissed the suit for lacking merit and substance and ordered El-Rufai to pay ₦200,000 in costs to each of the four respondents, bringing the total to ₦800,000. The ruling is a separate case from another suit he filed over the freezing of his bank accounts and possible seizure of assets, which was dismissed earlier in October.