A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Maitama, 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 and other federal government agencies.
The court, presided over by Justice Sylvanus Oriji, dismissed the suit on Monday, October 19, 2026, for lacking merit. It also awarded ₦200,000 in costs against El-Rufai in favour of each of the respondents.
The respondents in the suit included the DSS, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, and the Attorney General of the Federation.
El-Rufai had accused the agencies of violating his fundamental rights and asked the court to invalidate invitation letters issued to him by the EFCC and ICPC. He also sought ₦120 million in damages over the alleged violations.
Delivering judgment, Justice Oriji held that the invitation letters issued by the EFCC and ICPC met constitutional requirements and did not infringe on the former governor’s fundamental rights.
The judge also rejected El-Rufai’s argument that the DSS violated his rights when its operatives allegedly attempted to arrest him at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
The court upheld the DSS’s position that it had statutory powers to maintain watchlists and arrest persons of interest. It further ruled that El-Rufai had not provided sufficient evidence to establish that the seizure of his international passport was unlawful.
The judge maintained that the former governor could not use the court to prevent security and law enforcement agencies from carrying out their legally assigned responsibilities.
The judgment comes amid a separate criminal case involving allegations of unlawful interception of telephone communications linked to National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
The criminal case followed comments El-Rufai made during a television interview in February 2026, when he alleged that someone had intercepted Ribadu’s telephone communications and shared the conversation with him.
El-Rufai has faced charges brought by the DSS over the alleged interception. However, the fundamental rights suit dismissed on Monday was a separate legal proceeding from the criminal trial.
The latest ruling represents a setback for El-Rufai’s attempt to challenge the actions of the security and anti-corruption agencies through the rights enforcement suit.
ALSO READ:https://vistaonenews.com/2026/08/17/el-rufai-files-n10bn-suit-against-icpc-over-family-access/
Leave a comment