Court Dismisses El-Rufai's N120 Million Rights Suit Against SSS, EFCC, ICPC, AGF
A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a N120 million rights suit filed by the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, against the State Security Service (SSS), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
El-Rufai had alleged that the respondents violated his rights when they seized his passport and attempted to arrest him at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja upon his arrival in the country in February.
Background: El-Rufai's Claims
- Nasir El-Rufai, the Governor of Kaduna State, claimed the security agencies violated his rights by seizing his passport and attempting to arrest him at the airport.
- He alleged that the actions were taken without due process and were politically motivated.
- El-Rufai sought N120 million in damages for the alleged infringement of his rights.
The Court's Decision
The Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that El-Rufai's claims lacked merit and were politically motivated.
In its judgement, the court stated that the Governor's actions were not in line with the principles of due process, as he was given a fair hearing before the security agencies took any action against him.
The court further held that the seizure of El-Rufai's passport and the subsequent investigation were necessary measures taken by the security agencies to safeguard national security and prevent a possible breach of the law.
Following the Decision
El-Rufai's lawyer, Mr. Mike Ozekhome, has vowed to appeal the court's decision.
"My client is not happy with the judgment and will be appealing it," Ozekhome stated.
The lawyer argued that the security agencies acted outside the scope of their mandate and that the seizure of El-Rufai's passport was a violation of his fundamental rights.
However, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Abubakar Malami, expressed satisfaction with the court's decision.
"The court's ruling is in line with the law and the actions of the security agencies were justified to prevent a possible breach of the law and safeguard national security," Malami said.
The Attorney-General further stated that the security agencies acted within their mandate and that the seizure of El-Rufai's passport was necessary to prevent a potential security threat.
This case has raised concerns about the balance between individual rights and national security, particularly in the context of Nigeria's fight against corruption.
The ruling serves as a reminder that security agencies have the power to take necessary actions to safeguard Nigeria's national security and prevent potential breaches of the law.
The case also highlights the ongoing battle against corruption in Nigeria and the delicate balance between protecting individual rights and ensuring national security.
The Federal Government, represented by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami, expressed satisfaction with the court's decision.
"The court's ruling is in line with the law and the actions of the security agencies were justified to prevent a possible breach of the law and safeguard national security," Malami said.
The Attorney-General further stated that the seizure of El-Rufai's passport was necessary to prevent a potential security threat.
The case has raised concerns about the balance between individual rights and national security, particularly in Nigeria's ongoing fight against corruption.
The ruling serves as a reminder of the power of security agencies to take necessary actions to safeguard Nigeria's national security and prevent potential breaches of the law.
The case also highlights the ongoing battle against corruption in Nigeria and the delicate balance between safeguarding individual rights and ensuring national security.
The Federal Government, represented by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami, expressed satisfaction with the court's decision.
"The court's ruling is in line with the law and the actions of the security agencies were justified to prevent a possible breach of the law and safeguard national security," Malami said.
The Attorney-General further stated that the seizure of El-Rufai's passport was necessary to prevent a potential security threat.
The case has raised concerns about the balance between individual rights and national security, particularly in Nigeria's ongoing fight against corruption.
The ruling serves as a reminder of the power of security agencies to take necessary actions to protect Nigeria's national security and prevent
<small>Source: Premium Times Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
