Judge Withdraws From El-Rufai’s Fundamental Human Rights Suit

By Suleiman Anyalewechi 

The bid by detained former Governor of Kaduna to secure his freedom, suffered a big set back on Friday, February, 27, 2026, as the trial Judge in his fundamental human rights enforcement suit, Honourable Justice Inyang Ekwo, announced his withdrawal.

Justice Ekwo who has since  returned the case file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Honourable Justice John Tsoho for reassignment, cited his impending annual leave as a major reason for his action.

The Source reports that the embattled El-Rufai who has been  in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, since February 18, over alleged diversion of public funds, and corrupt practices during his tenure as the Kaduna state Governor, between 2015 and 2023 had applied to the court for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights.

He asked the Court to declare his continued detention without trial by the ICPC as illegal, null and void.

According to the motion on notice  filed by his counsel, El-Rufai  prayed the court to  declare the invasion and search conducted at his Abuja residence by the anti-graft Commission unlawful, unconstitutional, and amounting to  a gross violation of his right to freedom, privacy and dignity.

Similarly, he is seeking  an order of the court to restrain the ICPC, from using any of the items seized from his residence in prosecuting him, insisting that the warrant for the said search was not properly obtained.

El-Rufai who is a prominent figure in the opposition Coalition platform, the African Democratic Congress, ADC, prayed the court to award him the sum of  N1 billion representing examplary and collateral damages resulting from his illegal detention, and unlawful invasion of his Abuja residence.

The matter had earlier been billed for between February 25 and 26 for hearing of the bail application filed by El-Rufai.

However , with the new development, hopes for El-Rufai’s freedom may have to wait until a new Judge is assigned the  case .

This is as his planned arraignment by the Department of State Service, DSS, on a three-count charge bordering on alleged wire-tapping of the telephone lines of the National Security Adviser, NSA, has been adjourned to April 23 ,2026 .