By Olokuta Rofiat

A judge of the FCT High Court has withdrawn from the fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.

Justice Hussaini Belgore recused himself from the matter on Friday for undisclosed reasons, paving the way for the case to be reassigned and delaying further proceedings.

El-Rufai had sued the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, the Inspector-General of Police and others, alleging a violation of his constitutional rights following the search of his Abuja residence. He is seeking damages and declarations that his rights were breached.

Separately, the Department of State Services has filed criminal charges against him at the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged unlawful interception of communications. The case was adjourned to April 23, 2026.

Legal observers say reassignment of the fundamental rights suit may take weeks before hearings resume.

By Patrick Idowu

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has filed a N1 billion lawsuit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), following an allegedly unlawful raid on his Abuja residence.

Through his lead counsel, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, El-Rufai is asking the court to invalidate a February 4 search warrant issued by an FCT Magistrate’s Court, citing material drafting errors, ambiguity, and a lack of probable cause.

He contends that the execution of the warrant violated his constitutional rights under Section 37, rendering any evidence obtained during the search inadmissible in future proceedings.

The former governor is seeking an injunction to bar the ICPC from utilizing any seized items and is demanding heavy financial restitution for the encounter.

His N1 billion claim includes N300 million for psychological trauma, N400 million in exemplary damages to deter law enforcement misconduct, and N300 million in aggravated damages for the “malicious and high-handed” nature of the operation.

Additionally, El-Rufai is requesting N100 million to cover his legal fees and the overall cost of the litigation.

By Samson Adeyanju 

The Secretary General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), Rev. Fr. Michael ‘Leke Banjo, has questioned Nigeria’s claim to secularism, noting that the Constitution contains explicit references to Sharia and Islam without a corresponding structural reference to Christianity.

The CSN Scribe raised concerns about what he described as the possibility of a long-term religious imbalance within Nigeria’s institutional structures.

Speaking during the Joint All Catholic Knights (JACKs), annual summit held at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Abuja, Fr. Banjo pointed to complaints from some northern states where Christians reportedly face difficulties acquiring land to build churches or establishing chaplaincies in public institutions, while Muslim worship facilities are permitted.

Referencing a widely circulated write-up titled “The Islamization of Nigeria Is Not a Theory. It’s a Blueprint,” noted that while its conclusions may be debated, the deeper questions it raised about constitutional provisions, Sharia courts, educational policy, judicial interpretation and strategic public appointments deserved sober and factual examination.

Challenging Knights, the Canon Lawyer said the Church’s history shows that Catholic Knights emerged at moments when faith encountered political pressure, citing the example of the Knights Hospitaller, later known as the Knights of Malta, who defended Christian communities and protected pilgrims.

According to him, the major battleground in Nigeria today is institutional; in how laws are drafted, how policies are shaped, what is introduced into school curricula, and who occupies key public offices.

He urged Catholic Knights and Ladies to draw up a disciplined and realistic strategic plan to safeguard Christian presence in Nigeria and respond proactively to developments in legislation, education, public appointments, media narratives and public funding patterns.

He charged them to establish competent national and diocesan strategy units to monitor trends, analyse bills, track policy shifts, and develop position papers rather than reacting only through press statements.

“If Islamisation advances through structure, then your defence of the faith must also be structured,” he said.

Fr. Banjo urged the Knights to be strategic for 2027 and vigilant beyond, insisting that their power and influence must truly serve the common good.