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El-rufai Files N1Billion Suit Against ICPC for Unlawful Invasion of Residence

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8 months ago

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Former Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has filed a N1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Enforcement Commission (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 Feb. 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.

He 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.”

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 2nd to 4th respondents respectively.

In the suit dated and filed Feb. 20 by Iyamu, the detained ex-governor sought seven reliefs.

He prayed the court to declare that the invasion and search of his residence at House 12, Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja, on Feb. 19 at about 2pm and executed by agents of ICPC and I-G, “under the aforesaid invalid warrant, amounts to a gross violation of the applicant’s fundamental rights to dignity of the human person, personal liberty, fair hearing, and privacy under Sections 34, 35, 36, and 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 retum 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.”

El-Rufai did the breakdown of the N1 billion in damages to include “a N300 million as compensatory damages for psychological trauma, emotional distress, and loss of personal security;

A N400 million as exemplary damages to deter future misconduct by law enforcement agencies and vindicate the applicant’s rights.

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A N300 million as aggravated damages for the malicious, high-handed and oppressive nature of the respondents’ actions, including the use of a patently defective warrant procured through misleading representations.”

He equally sought a N100 million as cost of filing the suit, including legal fees and associated expenses.

In his grounds of argument, the senior lawyer argued that the search warrant was fundamentally defective, lacking specificity in the description of items to be seized, containing material typographical errors, ambiguous execution terms, overbroad directives, and no verifiable probable cause.

He said this was in contravention of Sections 143-148 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015; Section 36 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences (ICPC) Act, 2000, and constitutional protections against arbitrary intrusions.

Specifically, Iyamu argued that Section 143 of the ACJA requires that an application for a search warrant be supported by information in writing and on oath, setting forth reasonable grounds for suspicion, which was absent here as evidenced by the incomplete initiating clause;

He said Section 144 mandates particular descriptions of the place to be searched and the items sought, to prevent general warrants.

He, however, argued that the instant warrant vaguely referred to “the thing aforesaid” without any detail.

“Section 146 stipulates that the warrant must be in the prescribed form, free from defects that could mislead, but the document is riddled with errors in the address, date, and district designation;

“Section 147 allows direction to specified persons, but the warrant’s indiscriminate addressing to “all officers is overbroad and unaccountable.

“Section 148 permits execution at reasonable times, but the contradictory language creates ambiguity, undermining procedural clarity,” he submitted.

Iyamu stated that the execution of the invalid warrant on Feb. 19 resulted in an unlawful invasion of his client’s premises, constituting violations of the rights to dignity (Section 34), personal liberty (Section 35), fair hearing (Section 36), and privacy (Section 37) of the Constitution.

He further argued that the search was conducted without legal justification and in a manner that inflicted humiliation and distress.

“Evidence obtained without a valid warrant is unlawful and inadmissible, as established in judicial precedents such as C.O.P. v. Omoh (1969) NCLR 137, where the court ruled that evidence procured through improper means contravenes fundamental rights and must be excluded,” he said.

The lawyer, who also cited the case of Fawehinmi v. IGP (2000) 7 NWLR (Pt. 665) 481, said the court condemned vague warrants as affording unbridled discretion and leading to abuse.

He equally gave a plethora of cases to back his argument.

In the affidavit in support of the application, Mohammed Shaba, a Principal Secretary to the former governor, averred that on Feb. 19 at about 2p.m., officers from the ICPC and Nigeria Police Force invaded the residence under a purported search warrant issued on or about Feb. 4.

According to him, the said warrant is invalid due to its lack of specificity, errors, and other defects as outlined in the grounds of this application.

He said the “search warrant did not specify the properties or items being searched for.”

Shaba stated that the officers failed to submit themselves for search as provided by the law before proceeding with the search.

“That the Magistrate did not specify the magisterial district wherein he sits.

“That during the invasion, the officers searched the applicant’s premises without lawful authority, seized personal items including documents and electronic devices, and caused the applicant undue humiliation, psychological trauma, and distress.

“Now shown to me and marked as ‘EXHIBIT B’ Is the list of the items carted away.

“That no items seized have been returned, and the respondents continue to rely on the unlawful evidence.

“That the applicant suffered violations of his constitutional rights as a result, and this application is brought in good faith to enforce same,” Shaba said.

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Ahmad Hamisu Gwale Wins NBMA National Award for Best Male Newscaster 2026

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14 minutes ago

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October 13, 2026

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Kano-born journalist and broadcaster Ahmad Hamisu Gwale of Premier Radio 102.7 FM, Kano, has emerged as the winner of the Best Radio Newscaster (Male) National category at the seventh edition of the Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards (NBMA) 2026.

The awards ceremony was held on Saturday, 10 October 2026, at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos, bringing together broadcasting and media professionals to recognise excellence, professionalism and innovation across Nigeria’s media industry.

The annual awards featured more than 85 categories spanning television, radio and digital media.

Gwale emerged as the winner ahead of five other nominees: Gbenga Alli-Balogun of Eko FM; Nnah Douglas of Wazobia FM Abuja; Nyamgul Agaji of City 105.1 FM; Augustus “GUS” Aigbe of Cool FM; and Chike Osuji of Orient FM/IBC Owerri.

His achievement marks a significant milestone in his broadcasting career, further highlighting his work in radio news presentation and journalism.

From Sports Broadcasting to National Recognition.

Before winning the NBMA national award, Gwale received recognition from the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Kano State chapter, as Best Radio Sports Presenter of the Year 2024.

The award was presented on 6 February 2025 during the association’s calendar launch in Kano, recognising his contributions to sports broadcasting.

His recognition at both the SWAN awards and NBMA reflects his professional experience across two important areas of radio broadcasting: sports presentation and news reading.

Early Life and Education

Ahmad Hamisu Gwale was born in Sani Mainagge, Gwale Local Government Area of Kano State, Nigeria.

He developed an interest in journalism and communication, which led him to pursue formal training in mass communication. He graduated from the School of Basic Mass Communication (BMC), Kano, in 2018.

He subsequently studied Computer Science at Kano State Polytechnic, completing his programme on 15 May 2026. He is currently advancing his studies in Computer Science through the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

His educational background combines communication and journalism training with technical knowledge, supporting his interests in digital publishing, multimedia production and technology-driven media.

Journalism and Broadcasting Career

Gwale began his journalism career at Freedom Radio Kano in 2021 before joining Premier Radio 102.7 FM Kano in 2023.

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At Premier Radio, he has worked in different capacities, including newsreader, reporter, sports presenter and multimedia journalist. His experience covers news preparation and presentation, editorial work, current affairs reporting, sports coverage and digital content production.

His professional responsibilities and interests include presenting news bulletins, writing and editing reports, covering football competitions, conducting interviews and producing content for broadcast and online audiences.

He has also contributed to sports programmes, including Zauren Wasanni, through which audiences receive updates and discussions about sporting developments.

Through these roles, Gwale has built experience in communicating news and sports information to diverse audiences.

Contributions to Sports Journalism and Barau FC

Beyond radio broadcasting, Gwale has been involved in football media and communications, particularly through his work with Barau Football Club, popularly known as the Maliya Boys.

His contributions have included preparing match reports, previews, player profiles, official announcements, post-match updates and digital content for supporters.

His involvement in football communications has also focused on promoting players, documenting club activities and bringing developments in Kano football to a wider audience.

His experience in sports journalism has complemented his broadcasting career and contributed to his recognition by SWAN Kano.

Publishing and Media Entrepreneurship

In addition to his broadcasting career, Gwale is the founder and chief executive officer of AHG Mirror Media Services Company.

He is also associated with Independent Mirror, an online newspaper established in September 2023, where he serves in a leadership and publishing capacity.

His media interests span online newspaper publishing, news reporting, digital content creation, multimedia production, social media management, online branding and media consultancy.

Through these initiatives, he seeks to expand access to news and information while exploring opportunities offered by digital communication and contemporary media platforms.

Combining Journalism with Technology

Gwale’s interest in Computer Science complements his work in journalism and digital publishing.

His technical education supports his broader interests in online media development, digital communication and multimedia production.

By combining journalism with technology, he is developing a professional profile that spans traditional broadcasting, online publishing, sports communications and media entrepreneurship.

A Milestone in His Broadcasting Career

Winning the Best Radio Newscaster (Male) — National award at NBMA 2026 adds to Gwale’s professional recognition and marks another milestone in his journey through Nigeria’s broadcasting industry.

From his early career at Freedom Radio Kano to his work at Premier Radio and his involvement in digital publishing and football communications, his experience reflects a career built across news presentation, sports journalism and media enterprise.

His latest recognition at the Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards places his name among the award recipients celebrated at the seventh edition of the national broadcasting event.

Ahmad Hamisu Gwale continues to pursue opportunities at the intersection of journalism, sports, technology and digital media.

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Senate Passes Barau’s Bill to Provide Legal Framework for Yusuf Maitama Sule Federal University of Education, Kano

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4 hours ago

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October 13, 2026

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The Senate on Tuesday passed a bill sponsored by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin (APC, Kano North), to provide a legal framework for the Yusuf Maitama Sule Federal University of Education, Kano, Kano State.

The bill was passed during plenary presided over by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON. It seeks to provide the statutory foundation for the effective management and administration of the institution.

Recall that in September 2024, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the conversion of the Federal Colleges of Education in Kano and Zaria into federal universities of education.

Following Senator Barau’s request on behalf of the people of Kano, President Tinubu, on May 10, 2025, also approved the renaming of the institution as the Yusuf Maitama Sule Federal University of Education, Kano.

To give the institution a legal framework, Senator Barau sponsored the bill, which passed through the legislative process and was approved by the Senate for second and third readings. The bill scaled first reading on Wednesday, March 25, 2025.

While leading the debate on the bill, Senator Barau said the legislation was necessary to give legal backing to the institution.

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He commended President Tinubu for approving the institution’s upgrade and renaming, explaining that the bill would provide a legal framework for the promotion and development of teacher education and make comprehensive provisions for the university’s management and administration.

He said: “Mr Senate President, this institution has already been established by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“You may recall, my colleagues, that in the last Senate, I made efforts to facilitate the establishment of these institutions, including the Federal College of Education, Zaria, which was to be upgraded to a full-fledged university, as well as Alvan Ikoku College of Education and Adeyemi College of Education. The bills were passed and transmitted to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, but they were not assented to.

“When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office, I approached him and conveyed the desire of my people to have the Federal College of Education, Kano, upgraded to a full-fledged university. He assured me that, since it was the request of the people, it would be done. The President subsequently approved the upgrade of the institution.

“But we were not done yet. At the request of my people, I returned to the President to seek approval for the institution to be named after the late Yusuf Maitama Sule. The President immediately approved the request. Today, the institution is a full-fledged university offering degrees in various fields of education.

” We cannot thank Mr President enough. He loves Kano and has consistently acceded to our requests. Beyond this institution, he has also approved the establishment of the Federal University of Science and Technology in Kabo and the Federal Polytechnic in Rano. We cannot thank him enough for these interventions.”

In his remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended Senator Barau for sponsoring the bill and thanked senators for supporting its swift passage.

He expressed optimism that President Tinubu would assent to the bill upon its transmission to him, thereby providing the university with the necessary statutory and regulatory framework to fulfil its mandate and continue contributing to national development.

Signed:
Ismail Mudashir
Special Adviser to the Deputy President of the Senate
(Media and Publicity)
October 13, 2026

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APC London branch confers development award on Gov Abba Kabiru Yusuf

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7 hours ago

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October 13, 2026

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The ruling All Progressive Congress, APC London chapter has conferred an award of honour, on Kano state governor, Eng Abba Kabir Yusuf.

 

The chairman APC UK , London Branch, Hon Tunde Doherty , at the pageant presentation ceremony held at Double Tree By Hilton London, said the award was conferred on governor Yusuf in recognition of his contributions to the development of the party at the grass root levels.

 

He added that , the sterling leadership qualities of the recipient and his style of democratic governance were exemplarity saying this resulted to his been nominated by members of the UK branch of the party to be conferred with the award .

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The Special Adviser on Youth and Sports Development to the Executive Governor of Kano State, Sani Musa Danja .expressed profound appreciation to the APC UK leadership for the honour, bestowed on the governor, describing it as a clear testimony to the contributions of governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to the growth of the party across board.

 

He stated that , the awardee has continued to champion the values of unity, service, development and progress within the All Progressives Congress (APC).

 

According to him, Governor Yusuf has been an evangelist of the importance of strengthening relationships between party members and supporters in Nigeria and the diaspora.

 

Danja said that the award was earned owing to the sacrifices of the people of Kano State, alongside those working towards a united, prosperous and progressive Nigeria.

 

He commended Hon. Tunde Doherty and the APC UK leadership for promoting party solidarity and strengthening political engagements within the Nigerian diaspora community.

 

 

Danja conveyed the Governor’s appreciation to the Nigerian community in the United Kingdom for remaining actively connected to Nigeria’s political and developmental aspirations.

 

He affirmed that Kano State Government under the leadership of Abba Kabir Yusuf has remained focus towards its commitment to youth empowerment, sports development, creating economic opportunities and pursuing the general wellbeing of the good people of Kano.

 

Our correspondent reports that , the occasion also featured the inauguration of the Tinubu Must Stay Organisation, UK Chapter, marking another step in organising the supporters of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the United Kingdom and strengthening diaspora engagement in their support of the President’s leadership and the Renewed Hope Agenda.

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