Alleged Wiretapping: El-Rufai Loses N120m Right Enforcement Suit against DSS, Others
Alex Enumah in Abuja A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Monday, dismissed the fundamental rights suit filed by the immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Nasir
A High Court in the Federal Capital Territory dismissed a fundamental rights suit filed by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai against the Department of State Services (DSS) and three other agencies. Justice Sylvanus Oriji dismissed the suit for being incompetent and lacking in merit, awarding N200,000 to each of the respondents.
El-Rufai had accused the DSS, EFCC, ICPC, and the Attorney-General of the Federation of breaching his fundamental rights, specifically citing the alleged wiretapping of his phone lines by the security agencies. The court ruled that letters of invitation by the EFCC and ICPC to appear for investigation met constitutional requirements and did not constitute an infringement on El-Rufai's rights.
Additionally, the court upheld the DSS's statutory mandate to maintain a watchlist and arrest persons of interest, as well as its inherent powers pursuant to the SSS instrument and NSA Act. The court also dismissed El-Rufai's claim that the seizure of his international passport by the DSS was a violation of his rights, as it deemed the seizure lawful and pursuant to the DSS's powers.
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