The Federal High Court in Abuja has permitted the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to play selected portions of its closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage in the ₦10 billion fundamental rights suit filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
In separate rulings on applications filed by both parties, Justice Chigozie Onah rejected El-Rufai’s request to have the complete footage, reportedly lasting more than six hours, played in open court.
Instead, the judge ruled that each side would be allowed 20 minutes to play selected portions of the recordings before the court.
Justice Onah agreed with ICPC counsel, Yetunde Mosunmola, that playing the entire footage in open court could expose sensitive security information and create risks for the commission’s facility.
However, he stated that if the complete recordings needed to be examined, they could be viewed in his chambers.
The judge also rejected El-Rufai’s request to summon two ICPC officials who swore affidavits in support of the commission’s court processes for cross-examination.
According to Justice Onah, fundamental rights enforcement proceedings are sui generis, meaning they follow a special legal procedure, and the case would be determined based on affidavit evidence.
The court directed that the selected CCTV footage be played at 1 p.m. and adjourned the matter until November 3 for the definite hearing of the substantive applications.
Meanwhile, media personnel Mohammed Doka has urged Nigerians to use their votes in the 2027 general elections to express their displeasure over El-Rufai’s continued detention.
In a statement published on El-Rufai’s X account on Thursday, Doka described the former governor as a “caged lion” and called on his supporters and Nigerians to resist intimidation, remain peaceful and mobilise voters ahead of the elections.
Doka alleged that El-Rufai’s continued detention had taken on a political dimension, claiming it reflected concerns among some political actors about the former governor’s influence ahead of the 2027 elections.
He further claimed that the situation had fuelled public frustration, alleging that some political figures wanted El-Rufai to remain in custody until after the elections.
