El-Rufai Withdraws N1bn Rights Suit Against FCT Magistrate

Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, has withdrawn his N1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit against a Chief Magistrate at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Magistrate’s Court.

His counsel, Ugochukwu Nnakwu, informed Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja of the decision shortly after the case was called. The move followed the judge’s earlier observation that the suit failed to clearly identify the magistrate listed as the second defendant.

At the resumed hearing, Nnakwu explained that although the matter was scheduled for the hearing of an ex-parte motion seeking substituted service on the magistrate, a motion filed on March 30 had already been submitted to withdraw the suit against the judicial officer.

Lawyers representing the police, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) did not oppose the application. Consequently, Justice Abdulmalik struck out the magistrate’s name from the suit.

Nnakwu then requested time to amend the originating process. However, counsel to the ICPC, Abdul Mohammed (SAN), opposed the request, noting that some of the reliefs sought in the suit were directly tied to actions taken by the magistrate, particularly the issuance of a search warrant.

The court subsequently adjourned the matter until June 17 to allow the applicant file an amended suit.

Meanwhile, a Federal High Court in Kaduna has postponed the hearing of el-Rufai’s bail application, resulting in his return to ICPC custody after court proceedings.

The former governor, who is facing 10 counts of alleged corruption filed on March 24, had earlier been granted temporary release by the ICPC on compassionate grounds to attend his mother’s funeral. He was initially remanded alongside a co-defendant pending the hearing of their bail applications.

His lawyer, Ukpong Akpan, confirmed the adjournment of the bail hearing but declined further comment. El-Rufai was later escorted from the court premises by ICPC operatives.