The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled December 2, 2026, to deliver judgment in the ₦1 billion fundamental rights suit filed by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and other respondents.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik fixed the date after lawyers representing the parties adopted their respective court processes, bringing the latest stage of the proceedings to a close.

Key Takeaways

• The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed December 2, 2026, for judgment in El-Rufai’s ₦1 billion suit.
• The case was filed against the ICPC and other respondents.
• Lawyers representing the respondents adopted their processes and urged the court to dismiss the suit.
• El-Rufai’s lawyer, Ubong Akpan, arrived after the case had been called and apologised for his lateness.
• The judge had already deemed El-Rufai’s filed processes adopted.

Respondents Ask Court to Dismiss El-Rufai’s Suit

During the proceedings, ICPC counsel Abdul Mohammed (SAN) identified and adopted the processes filed on behalf of the commission. He also urged the court to dismiss the suit in its entirety.

The lawyer representing the Inspector-General of Police, ACP Ezekiel Rimamsomte, similarly adopted the processes filed for his client and asked the court to dismiss the case.

Maimuna Lami-Shiru, Director of Civil Litigation and Public Law, who represented the Attorney General of the Federation, also adopted the relevant processes and sought the dismissal of the suit.

The respondents’ positions were therefore presented to the court before the matter was adjourned for judgment.

What Happened When El-Rufai’s Lawyer Arrived?

El-Rufai’s lawyer, Ubong Akpan, was not present when the case was initially called. He subsequently entered the courtroom and apologised to the judge for arriving late.

Akpan then sought the court’s permission to adopt the processes filed on behalf of his client. However, Justice Abdulmalik informed him that the processes had already been deemed adopted by an earlier order.

The ruling on the adoption of the processes addressed a procedural step in the proceedings. The supplied report does not state that the court had determined the substantive issues raised in the fundamental rights suit.

When Will the Court Deliver Judgment?

Following the adoption of the parties’ processes, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the case until December 2, 2026, for judgment.

The date marks the next major stage in the case. The court’s decision on the suit will be known when judgment is delivered.

What the Judgment Could Mean for the Case

The judgment will determine the court’s decision on the suit, but its outcome cannot be predicted from the procedural details provided in the source report.

For now, the confirmed development is the date fixed by the Federal High Court. Further reporting should focus on the judgment itself and any orders the court makes when the matter returns.