Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has filed a N1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit at the Federal High Court Abuja , against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Enforcement Commissions (ICPC) over alleged unlawful invasion of his Abuja residence.

El-Rufai, through his team of lawyers led by Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, prayed the court to declare that the search warrant issued on February 4 by the Chief Magistrate, Magistrate’s Court of the FCT (2nd respondent), authorising the search and seizure at his residence was invalid, null and void.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the former governor had, in the originating motion on notice marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026, sued ICPC as 1st respondent

.El-Rufai named the Chief Magistrate, Magistrate’s Court of the FCT, Abuja Magisterial District; I-G and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) as the 2nd to 4th respondents respectively

El-Rufai urged the court to declare that the search warrant was “null and void for lack of particularity, material drafting errors, ambiguity in execution parameters, overbreadth, and absence of probable cause, thereby constituting an unlawful and unreasonable search in violation of Section 37 of the Constitution.”

He urged the court to declare that “any evidence obtained pursuant to the aforesaid invalid warrant and unlawful search is inadmissible in any proceedings against the applicant, as it was procured in breach of constitutional safeguards.

El-Rufai, therefore, sought an order of injunction restraining the respondents and their agents from further relying on, using, or tendering any evidence or items seized during the unlawful search in any investigation, prosecution, or proceedings involving him.“

An order directing the Ist and 3rd respondents (ICPC and I-G) to forthwith return all items seized from the applicant’s premises during the unlawful search, together with a detailed inventory thereof.

“An order awarding the sum of N1,000,000,000.00 (One Billion Naira) as general, exemplary, and aggravated damages against the respondents jointly and severally for the violations of the applicant’s fundamental rights, including trespass, unlawful seizure, and the resultant psychological trauma, humiliation, distress, infringement of privacy, and reputational harm.”

Former Vice President of Nigeria and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has expressed deep concern over the alarmingly low voter turnout in Saturday’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, describing the figures as a clear indictment of the state of Nigeria’s democracy under the present administration.

Official results showed an average turnout of below 20 per cent across the six area councils, with the Abuja Municipal Area Council recording a particularly dismal 7.8 per cent.

Atiku described this as “a damning verdict” on the health of the nation’s democratic process, especially in the symbolic capital city that represents the heartbeat of the federation.

He attributed the widespread disengagement not to voter apathy, but to a deliberate and sustained assault on democratic norms by the Bola Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) government.

According to the former Vice President, the low participation is the predictable result of a political atmosphere marked by intolerance, intimidation, harassment of dissenters, coercion of political defectors, and the systematic stifling of opposition voices.

“When citizens lose faith that their votes matter, democracy begins to die,” Atiku declared. “What we are witnessing is not mere voter apathy. It is a direct consequence of an administration that governs with a chokehold on pluralism. Democracy in Nigeria is being suffocated—slowly, steadily, and dangerously.”

He cautioned that the ongoing erosion of participatory governance, if allowed to continue unchecked, risks inflicting irreversible damage on the democratic institutions and freedoms built over decades through sacrifice and struggle.

“A democracy without vibrant opposition, without free political competition, and without public confidence is democracy in name only,” he warned. “If this chokehold is not released, history will record this era as the period when our hard-won freedoms were traded for fear and conformity.”

Atiku called on all opposition parties, civil society organisations, and democratic forces nationwide to urgently set aside differences and form a united front to defend the Republic.

“This is no longer about party lines; it is about preserving the Republic,” he emphasised. “The time to stand together to rescue and rebuild Nigeria is now.”

In a significant win for the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria has prevailed in an international arbitration dispute with European Dynamics UK Ltd, a European technology contractor, saving the country from a potential liability of over $6.2 million (approximately ₦9.3 billion).

The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) successfully defended against claims related to a stalled national electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) system project, funded in part by the World Bank. The project involved the design, development, customization, supply, installation, and maintenance of the e-Procurement platform aimed at enhancing transparency, accountability, and efficiency in federal public procurement.

The Sole Arbitrator, Mrs. ‘Funmi Roberts, issued a final and non-appealable ruling dismissing all claims by European Dynamics UK Ltd in their entirety. The contractor had sought approximately $2.4 million for alleged milestone payments, $3 million in general damages, and an additional $800,000 in settlement claims.

The dispute centered on the User Acceptance Test (UAT), where BPP identified significant functional deficiencies, omissions, and errors in the system. Nigeria’s position—that delivery in software customization projects is only complete upon satisfactory UAT confirming compliance with technical, statutory, and operational requirements—was upheld.

The tribunal ruled that the vendor bore responsibility to remedy deficiencies at no extra cost and found no evidence supporting the contractor’s claims of approved mergers of project phases or contractual consent for such changes.Nigeria’s legal team, led by Johnson & Wilner LLP with Founding Partner Basil Udotai Esq. at the forefront, was praised for its expertise in technology contracting.

BPP Director-General Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, who inherited the stalled project and ongoing arbitration upon taking office, described the outcome as a landmark signal in public sector technology dealings.

“This vendor has taken various African countries to court and won every single case. Nigeria is the first to defeat them,” he said during a presentation of the award to Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN). He emphasized that Nigeria “can no longer be taken for granted” and thanked the AGF for supporting the decision to proceed with arbitration rather than settle.

AGF Fagbemi hailed the victory as evidence that “it is no longer business as usual.” He commended Dr. Adedokun’s courage, the legal team’s brilliance, and President Tinubu’s backing for institutional strengthening. “This win sends a clear message to the international community: Nigeria has resonated…

By standing up to European Dynamics, we have instilled courage in other African nations to protect their own resources,” he stated.

The ruling highlights the critical role of rigorous testing, clear milestones, and performance-based standards in government tech contracts, with lessons to be applied to ongoing e-procurement reforms to minimize future disputes.Kamarudeen Ogundele Special Assistant to the President (Communication and Publicity) Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice