Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has failed to persuade the Federal High Court in Abuja to stop the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and other anti-graft agencies in the country from freezing his bank accounts.

In a ruling by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, the court dismissed a suit filed by the former governor, who has been in detention, seeking an order restraining federal government agencies from moving against his assets.

The court held that the suit not only lacked merit but was speculative, as no reasonable cause of action was disclosed against the agencies the applicant listed as defendants.

Therefore, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) were struck out from the case.

In the suit he filed on February 24, El-Rufai prayed the court for an interim injunction directing the respondents to maintain the status quo ante regarding his assets.

According to him, the order was necessary to prevent him from being placed in a state of helplessness. He insisted that the severance pay he received upon completing his tenure as governor of Kaduna State between 2015 and 2023 could not reasonably be suspected to be proceeds of any unlawful activity.

He urged the court to declare that properties purchased from his severance pay were lawfully acquired.

The banks the applicant prayed the court to protect from the respondents included Zenith Bank Plc, Naira Account Number: 1007158671; Zenith Bank Plc, Domiciliary Account Number: 507 1511327; Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) Plc, Account Number: 0023824978; Access Bank, Dollar Account Number: 1396386493; and Access Bank, Naira Account Number: 1396382103.

El-Rufai also sought a declaration that any attempt by the respondents to apply for, obtain or execute any interim or final forfeiture or freezing order, without first establishing a reasonable suspicion supported by credible evidence as required by relevant law, would amount to a breach of his rights.

He relied on Section 17(1) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, and the Supreme Court decision in Melrose General Services Ltd v. EFCC (2024) SC/1519/2019, to pray the court to declare that, as a citizen of Nigeria, he is entitled to the presumption of innocence and the protection of his fundamental rights.

He argued that any action by the respondents seeking to circumvent his constitutionally guaranteed rights through ex parte applications that conceal material facts would amount to a breach of Section 36(5) of the Constitution and a violation of the principles of fair hearing.

At least three people were killed and two others injured after gunmen attacked a construction site along the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway in Maiyama Local Government Area , the victims included two security operatives and an expatriate working on the road construction project, while two civilians sustained gunshot injuries.

The incident occurred at a construction site in Gubba Village, Andarai District of Maiyama LGA, according to the Kebbi State Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Bashir Usman.

Usman said the attackers, suspected to be Lakurawa terrorists from the Kebbe axis of neighbouring Sokoto State, stormed the construction site and opened fire on the workers.

He said two civilians were also injured during the attack and were evacuated to a hospital for treatment.

The police spokesperson said another attack by the suspected terrorists was recorded the same day along the Birnin Malam axis but was repelled by police teams.

He added that joint security forces had responded to the incidents, with tactical teams deployed to strengthen security and prevent further attacks.

Following the attack, construction activities at the affected site were suspended as security agencies intensified surveillance and deployed additional personnel to the area.

The police assured workers on the project of continued security protection and urged them to remain calm as efforts continued to safeguard lives and property.

The Imo State Police Command has explained how security agencies secured the release of 21 people, including 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, who were abducted in the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso, said the abductors eventually released the victims after security operatives intensified efforts to locate their hideout and mounted pressure on them.

Bosso disclosed this during an interview with Channels Television on Thursday, while providing an update on the rescue operation.

According to the police commissioner, the command had no information indicating that a ransom was paid to secure the victims’ freedom.

He said security personnel had combed the forest as part of a coordinated operation, which eventually forced the kidnappers to give up the captives.

Bosso, however, said the rescued victims were still receiving attention at the office of the Department of State Services (DSS).

The 20 prospective corps members and another victim were kidnapped on October 1 while travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.

Following the incident, security agencies launched a joint search for the victims and the suspected kidnappers.

The police had earlier disclosed that drone surveillance helped operatives identify the location of the kidnappers’ camp.

However, security personnel could not immediately access the area after the location was reportedly found to have been planted with improvised explosive devices.

Additional operational resources were subsequently deployed as security agencies intensified their efforts to reach the abducted victims.

The incident had raised concern among relatives of the victims, particularly amid reports that the kidnappers were demanding ₦50 million for each person in their custody.

Police authorities had previously announced the rescue of 10 victims while the search for the remaining abductees continued.

The remaining victims were eventually released from the Amakohia-Ubi forest in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State on Wednesday following the coordinated security operation.

The development brought an end to the ordeal of the 21 abducted persons, who were subsequently taken to safety and placed under medical attention in Owerri.

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma commended the security agencies involved in the operation.

In a statement personally signed by him, the governor also praised the cooperation between the Imo and Oyo state governments, saying their joint efforts contributed to the release of the abducted persons.