Alleged Wiretapping: Again, Court Dismisses El-Rufai’s N120 Million Rights Violation Suit

…Awards N200,000 each in favour of DSS, ICPC, EFCC, AGF

A high Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Monday, dismissed a N120 million fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by the immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El’Rufai, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Department of State Services (DSS), the Attorney General of the Federation,and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

In dismissing the suit for lacking in merit, the court awarded N200,000 each in favour of the DSS, EFCC and ICPC.

The presiding judge,Justice Sylvanus Orji, held that the letters of invitation by the EFCC and ICPC to the former governor met constitutional requirement, so did not infringe on his rights.

On El’Rufai ‘s argument that there was no warrant for his attempted arrest by the DSS at the Nnamdi Azikiwe international airport, Abuja, the judge ruled that Service had inherent powers of the police pursuant to the SSS instrument and NSA Act.

The court further held that the DSS had the mandate to maintain watchlist action and arrest persons of interest, stressing that El’Rufai cannot use the court to stop the agencies from performing their duties.

On the question of whether the seizure of the ex-governor’s international passport by the DSS was a violation of his fundamental human rights, the court held that it was satisfied that the seizure was lawful and pursuant to the powers of the DSS and thus, the applicant failed to show that the seizure was continuous, permanent and unlawful.